Slain DC woman's mother says she forgives her daughter's killer

WASHINGTON - The mother of a D.C. woman stabbed to death while she was going on a run said she has forgiven her daughter's killer.

Family and friends remembered Wendy Martinez at a vigil held Thursday night in Logan Circle. The 35-year-old woman was murdered in what police call an unprovoked attack Tuesday evening.

D.C. police arrested and charged 23-year-old Anthony Crawford with first-degree murder while armed. Prosecutors said in court on Thursday that he tested positive for cocaine. According to court documents, someone who knew him told police that he is an avid user of K2, a synthetic drug.

Martinez's parents, her fiance, friends from out of state and even people who had never met her came together to remember her.

Last week, Martinez got engaged to Daniel Hincapie. Her mother said Martinez was on Cloud Nine.

"She was a happy person, especially the last seven days of her life after she received that engagement ring," said Cora Martinez.

Now, instead of a wedding, her fiance and her family are planning a funeral.

"Wendy, I love you and I know that you're in a better place and I know that you're looking upon us," said Hincapie.

It wasn't far from here where Wendy was running Tuesday night. After she was stabbed, she went into a restaurant trying to get help. But she didn't survive.

"Be courageous. My daughter fought up to the last breath," said Wendy's mother.

Cora Martinez also showed incredible strength on this night.

"I want to say that I have forgiven," she said. "My heart has been broken in a thousand pieces, but I forgive the man because I know it wasn't him. It was somebody else. It was evil."

Her family and friends said what happened isn't reflective of D.C. or the people here.

"I don't want anyone here to let this isolated incident to reflect on what the city really is," said Juan Carlos Martinez, Wendy's brother. "Don't give up on humanity and how people are."

"Hug your friends, your family with two arms - not one," said a friend of Wendy's. "Put the cup of coffee down, put the bag down, whatever it is. Because you don't want to have that moment where you say I wish I would have."

A memorial fund has been set up to help with Wendy's funeral expenses along with causes and organizations that were close to her heart.

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