Cheyenne Man on Trial for Murder of 4-Month-Old Son Admits to Covering for Wife

On Tuesday in Laramie County District Court, 24-year-old Joseph Hanson told a jury he felt ashamed for shielding his wife after their infant son suffered fatal injuries in August 2025. Standing trial for first-degree murder in Cheyenne, Hanson watched videotaped police interrogations from April reveal his silence surrounding the death of 4-month-old TH.

Detective Uses Ruse to Get Hanson Confession

The trial centered on extensive police interviews recorded on April 8 and April 9, following a planned traffic stop over an improperly registered vehicle. Cheyenne Police Detective James Eddy walked the court through the questioning. Using what Eddy described as a ruse technique, the detective falsely claimed Hanson had been aggressive with his children and urged him to confess before other investigators locked him in as the villain. Hanson admitted during the marathon questioning that he learned in September 2025 that his wife, 23-year-old Juliette Martinez, had confessed to their pastor’s wife that she was responsible for the baby not breathing.

I hate that I chose my wife over my kids, Hanson told detectives in the videotaped interview shown to the jury.

Before the fatal medical emergency on August 8, 2025, Hanson admitted to writing a note relinquishing his parental rights during an argument with Martinez. He acknowledged holding TH up by his legs on the stairs and telling Martinez they should surrender the infant to the state or get rid of him. While Hanson insisted to Detective Eddy that he was merely threatening and never meant it, the notes and threats became central pillars of the state’s case.

Medical Testimony on Fatal Head Injury

Dr. Stephen Cina, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy, provided stark medical testimony regarding the infant’s final weeks. Cina determined the cause of death was homicide by unspecified means, pointing to a probable abusive head injury that involved shaking or smothering. The baby spent a month in the intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado before life support was withdrawn on September 8, 2025.

This kid died because of the action of another person, Cina testified, noting that the infant suffered from nonsurvivable diffuse hypoxic injury and severe cerebral edema. When life support was finally turned off, Cina said the child’s brain was very soft and almost falling apart from a lack of oxygen and blood flow.

Medical records and police testimony established that only Hanson and Martinez were caring for the infant when he suffered the seizure on August 8. Phone records recovered by investigators showed that while driving to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center—a trip delayed because the family could not afford an ambulance—Martinez deleted text messages and internet searches concerning shaken baby syndrome.

Upcoming Testimony and Closing Arguments

Defense attorney Marty Scott informed Judge Peter Froelicher that he plans to call two additional witnesses when court resumes on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Hanson himself wants to testify, though his legal team noted that decision remains subject to change. Meanwhile, the status of Juliette Martinez remains uncertain. While her defense received permission to call her as a witness, counsel indicated she is likely to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Cheyenne Man on Trial for Murder of 4-Month-Old Son Admits to Covering for Wife

The 10-woman, four-man jury is expected to receive the case on Wednesday afternoon following closing arguments from Scott and Laramie County Assistant District Attorney William Edelman. If convicted of first-degree murder, either could receive life in prison.