Man Stabbed to Death in Martinez After Suspect Released From Custody

A 68-year-old retired engineer was fatally stabbed outside his Martinez, California, home on August 6, 2026, one day after a judge released the man now accused of his murder. The victim, Todd Stewart, was attacked in his front yard during an attempted burglary, according to authorities. The suspect, 36-year-old Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez, was arrested the following evening and has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The killing has drawn intense scrutiny due to the sequence of events preceding it. Iriarte-Valdez was already facing felony burglary charges from incidents in Orinda in April 2026. Court records indicate he was taken into custody on August 4 for an alleged violation of his home detention monitoring conditions. The next day, August 5, Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Nichelle Holmes ordered his release on his own recognizance and referred him back to the home detention program. Less than 24 hours later, Stewart was killed.

According to prosecutors, Iriarte-Valdez was attempting to burglarize Stewart's property on Francis Court when Stewart confronted him, leading to the fatal stabbing. The attack was captured on neighbor surveillance video. Iriarte-Valdez...