Investigation unfolds after child found unresponsive
The Newport News Police Department arrested a man Tuesday in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy who was found unresponsive in a home earlier this month. Authorities have also charged the child's mother, and prosecutors say preliminary medical findings indicate the child died of blunt force trauma.
The arrested man, 30-year-old Gregory Glenn Martin, is charged with second-degree murder, child abuse/neglect causing serious injury and failing to provide required sex-offender registry information, according to police. The boy's mother, 27-year-old Katrina Marie Sudberry, was charged last week with second-degree murder and felony child abuse.
How authorities say events unfolded
Police say they were dispatched July 16 to a residence on Walden Pond Court after an alert indicated a medical emergency involving a 5-year-old. At the scene, investigators reported finding the child lying on the bedroom floor with bruising to his face and body. Officers also observed the mother in obvious distress.
According to documents obtained by local media, the mother told investigators the child had been low energy and had vomited earlier that morning. She later discovered him unresponsive and called her own mother before contacting emergency services. The child was airlifted to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, where he was pronounced dead.
"Preliminary findings from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's autopsy suggest the boy died from blunt force trauma,"
The autopsy reportedly identified lacerations to internal organs and facial abrasions that prompted a homicide investigation.
Allegations about discipline and timeline of care
Documents indicate the mother admitted to using physical forms of discipline, including her hands, a belt and forced exercises such as push-ups and wall squats. She stated she used a belt on the child two days before he was found unresponsive.
Police charged Martin after additional investigation; the department has confirmed he is the mother's boyfriend. Authorities have not released further details about his alleged role in the events that led to the child's death.
- Date of incident: July 16 — medical alert call and response
- Child's age: 5 years old
- Medical conclusion (preliminary): Blunt force trauma reported by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Local implications and next steps
The arrests raise urgent questions for Newport News about child safety, oversight and how domestic discipline escalated to fatal injury. Prosecutors will determine whether to pursue the murder charges as presented; court dates and further filings have not yet been announced publicly.
The case also underscores the role of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in establishing cause of death for violent cases and shaping the course of criminal investigations. Residents seeking information about the case should monitor public records and court dockets for updates from the Newport News Police Department and Commonwealth's Attorney.
The investigation remains active. Police have not released additional statements about motive or potential prior reports to child protective services.
| Person | Age | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Katrina Marie Sudberry | 27 | Second-degree murder; felony child abuse |
| Gregory Glenn Martin | 30 | Second-degree murder; child abuse/neglect causing serious injury; providing false information / failing to provide sex offender registry info |
Officials ask anyone with information to contact the Newport News Police Department's homicide unit. As prosecutorial and investigative steps proceed, the community will be watching for court proceedings that may clarify the facts and assign responsibility.
