SPOKANE, Wash. — Court documents are providing new details in the disappearance and death of Jannell Martensen, a mother and grandmother who was reported missing in November.
Documents reveal that police discovered her body on Dec. 14 in a truck bed toolbox on a property along S. Madison Road in Valleyford.
According to court documents, Martensen's abusive ex-boyfriend, Colton Russell, and his new girlfriend, Kiara Morgan-Weiland, were both suspects in her disappearance. The two were killed near Minnehaha Park in Spokane days before Martensen's body was found. Detectives said the couple's friend, Brandon Kenny, admitted to killing them after helping Russell dispose of Martensen's body.
"She always gave everything and she didn't have much," Alisha Galbreath, Martensen's cousin, said. "But what she did have, she would give you the last of it."
Galbreath reported her cousin missing when Martensen would not return calls or texts and did not show up for Thanksgiving with her kids and grandkids. She last saw Martensen on Nov. 18 when Russell picked her up to go camping.
"She didn't even want to go on the front porch and smoke a cigarette, it's so cold. So for her to tell me she's going camping and then with Colten?"
Martensen's mother told KREM 2 her daughter struggled with drug addiction and was in an abusive, on-and-off relationship with Russell.
"Didn't want to give up on him, I guess," Galbreath said. I was like 'Jannell, why?' He's already taken her to the woods before after beating her up and he just left her there."
The next day, Jannelle texted Alisha and several other friends begging them to pick her up from Russell's home in Spokane Valley.
"She was afraid for her life because he had a gun and was threatening her," Galbreath said.
But no one went to get her.
"I feel really bad about that, just for the fact because we probably could have saved her," Galbreath said. "But Jannelle, prior to that in the past, has called so many times saying the same thing and then she won't leave."
Deputies searched Russell's home on Dec. 9 and court documents show they found blood spatter on the living room wall and a bloody sponge in the garbage.
Court documents also show Weiland, Russell's new girlfriend, apparently searched 'serial killer couples' and 'how to dispose of dead bodies' on her YouTube account.
Detectives believe Russell left Jannelle's body in a truck bed toolbox in Valleyford. KREM 2 reached out to the property owners, they said they didn't know Russell, but let him park his truck on their property after he broke down. He had promised it would be towed away soon.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
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