Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Thursday, March 26, that Joseph Martinez, otherwise known as “Jupiter Joe” was sentenced on Thursday to 25 years to life in prison for the 1999 murder of 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano, the first case in New York City solved using familial DNA, as previously reported.

“The defendant sexually abused Minerliz and killed her,” Clark said. “He left her body in a dumpster in Co-op City, where she was found on February 28, 1999. Bronx detectives and my ADAs never gave up in the quest for justice for this beautiful little girl. Their relentless dedication and compassion, coupled with advanced technology in DNA, led to the arrest and conviction.”

 

The district attorney added, “Today is the final chapter, after 26 years of anguish, and I hope this sentence brings solace to Minerliz’ family and the childhood friend who compellingly testified at trial. Minerliz’ dream of flying to the stars as an astronaut was dashed, but her light will never dim for her loved ones.”

Clark said Martinez, 54, of New Rochelle, N.Y., was sentenced by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone, after he was found guilty by a jury of two counts of second-degree murder, felony and intentional, on November 14, 2025.

 

According to trial testimony, on Feb. 24, 1999, Minerliz was last seen alive walking home from school in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. The court heard that four days later her body was found wrapped in a trash bag in a dumpster behind a video store in Co-op City. Prosecutors said Minerliz had been sexually abused, and her neck was compressed, causing her death.

 

Martinez, known as Jupiter Joe, because he taught astronomy to kids in parks and at community events, was arrested on November 29, 2021. As reported, in April 2019, the NYPD and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office submitted a joint application to get results from the familial DNA system. A DNA sample from a semen stain on the victim’s sweatshirt was submitted and led to Martinez. Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the defendant, which matched the DNA found on the victim’s sweatshirt.

 

It was the first case in New York City that was solved using familial DNA.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Miras, senior homicide counsel, and Assistant District Attorney Che Van Eer of Trial Bureau 30, under the supervision of Burim Namani, deputy chief of the Homicide Bureau, Christine Scaccia, chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the Trial Division.

 

Clark thanked Senior Homicide Advocate Laura Ramirez of the Bronx DA Crime Victims Assistance Bureau, Assistant District Attorney David Slott, Chief of the Forensic Sciences Unit, and Lindsey Cooper, forensic analyst, for their assistance with the investigation.

 

She also thanked NYPD Detective Dominic Robinson, retired Detective Malcom Reiman, both of Bronx Homicide Task Force, retired Detective James Menton, and retired NYPD Detective Bernard Ryan of the 45th Precinct, who was the original case investigator.

 

Clark later added, “After 27 years, the family of 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano obtained justice as Joseph Martinez AKA Jupiter Joe was sentenced yesterday to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of the girl.”