Brenda Martin’s Guilty Verdict

Marjorie Bletcher Reacts to Daughter's Plea

April 22, 2008 Brenda Martin was found guilty in a court in Guadalajara, Mexico, after enduring over two years of incarceration without a verdict. Brenda was accused of being part of a multi-million dollar fraud scheme perpetrated by her former employer, Alyn Richard Waage, even though Waage himself insisted she was innocent.

It was all circumstantial evidence against Brenda. She worked for the man. They wanted to let us know who’s boss, but it’s a person’s life at stake.

I found out in my living room with media cameras and a TV monitor filming. I saw it across the bottom of the screen. I screamed, but it does soften the blow to know Brenda might be home in a few weeks. I worry about Brenda’s fragile state; she was hysterical.

This could happen to anyone, and has just been devastating.The phone started ringing before 7 a.m. I don’t know when I’ll get to talk to her. I can’t go down to Mexico with my medical issues. I won’t rest until she’s back on Canadian soil.

I said, “You can’t look back, because it’s only going to destroy you.” She’s got to take heart in the fact that many people believe she is innocent. We have to keep the pressure on the Mexicans to get her out of there swiftly - 2,500 Americans were killed in Mexico last year. When you’re brought up in our system, it’s just hard to believe that this all goes on.