Local

Family pleads for answers in Gwinnett man's deadly beating

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Family members and investigators are desperate for clues that could lead to the person who killed a 25-year-old Gwinnett County man.

Police said a pedestrian found the body of Darinel Martinez Lopez about 3 p.m. Sunday in a wooded area of Bella Vista Apartments on Satellite Boulevard.

"We've determined at this point that he was not shot or stabbed, so it appears that he was severely beaten," said Gwinnett police Cpl. Jake Smith.

Marlei Martinez told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh in Spanish that her brother was a mild-mannered hard worker who helped their mother. Martinez said she wants to know what happened to her brother during the 27 hours he was missing.

She said Darinel Martinez left their apartment Saturday afternoon, but didn't come home that night.

Sunday afternoon when she returned from church, she saw police activity at the adjacent apartment complex along Satellite Boulevard.

She said he had a hunch, so she went over and showed police a photo of her brother. Marlei Martinez was devastated to learn it was him.

The grieving sister said her family is left with many questions and no answers.

A Gwinnnett Medical Examiner has ruled Darinel Martinez Lopez's death a homicide.

So far, no witnesses have come forward.

Detectives ask anyone with information about the case to call the Gwinnett County Police Department at 770-513-5300.