Man convicted of fatally stabbing driver, leaving body in trunk after victim asked for gas money

WHITE PLAINS, Md. (TCN) -- A 22-year-old man faces 43 years in prison after recently being convicted of stabbing a driver dozens of times over money.

State’s Attorney for Charles County Tony Covington announced that a jury found Marvin Ernesto Funez-Martinez guilty on July 26 of the second-degree murder of Marco Alexander Pulido-Castro, as well as the wear and carry of a dangerous weapon with the intent to injure. Funez-Martinez is set to be sentenced in October.

According to the Charles County Sheriff's Office, in the early hours of Oct. 29, 2023, patrol officers responded to a report of a person armed with a weapon. While on scene, witnesses led officers to the trunk of a car, where they found Pulido-Castro deceased in the fetal position with multiple stab wounds.

Authorities located Funez-Martinez behind his house and took him into custody. According to the state's attorney's office, at the time of his arrest, Funez-Martinez had numerous lacerations on his hand.

Prosecutors said Funez-Martinez hired Pulido-Castro to drive him and two other people to a club in Washington, D.C. Pulido-Castro also reportedly went into the club and then drove the defendant and the other individuals back to their house in White Plains, Maryland.

While on the way home, the victim went to a gas station and asked for more money to fill his tank. Prosecutors said Pulido-Castro's car began overheating at the station, but he was still able to get everyone home.

At the house, Pulido-Castro's engine continued overheating, and he stayed outside to check his vehicle while Funez-Martinez went into the home and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. As Pulido-Castro examined the engine, the state's attorney's office said Funez-Martinez "began stabbing the victim repeatedly."

Pulido-Castro reportedly attempted to get away and went across the street. Funez-Martinez followed him and continued to stab him. In total, prosecutors said the defendant stabbed the victim 59 times, and he also knocked out some of his teeth.

Following the stabbing, Funez-Martinez reportedly placed Pulido-Castro's body into the trunk and fled behind his house.

According to the state's attorney's office, during the investigation, Funez-Martinez confessed to killing the driver. Authorities also found the victim's blood on the defendant's hands, his sweatshirt, and the knife used in the stabbing.