Duluth Police Arrest Father, Daughter for Alleged Sexual Relationship

Oct 31

A Duluth man and his adult daughter have been charged after police uncovered an incestuous relationship while investigating a domestic assault earlier this week.

Authorities say 60-year-old Mark Steven Shatto Sr. and 20-year-old Janet Ann Martinez were both charged with one felony count of incest.

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Police were dispatched to a domestic assault on Oct. 28 after Martinez’s husband, a 54-year-old man, said Martinez assaulted him and also told officers that his wife had been having sex with her biological father.

Officers went to Shatto’s apartment in Duluth where both Martinez and Shatto were found. Shatto told police Martinez did not live with him but would visit on weekends. He said he had not been involved in her life since she was about six years old and only reconnected with her within the past year. Shatto initially denied any sexual relationship with his daughter.

When officers questioned Martinez, she confirmed Shatto was her biological father and said their sexual relationship began about six or seven months earlier. She told investigators the most recent encounter occurred roughly three months ago inside Shatto’s apartment. Martinez said both were under the influence of methamphetamine during the encounters and that they exchanged nude photos.

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Shatto was later interviewed after police executed a search warrant on his apartment. He denied the allegations at first but admitted to receiving nude photos from Martinez and said he could not recall how many times they had sex, citing memory blackouts from a previous brain surgery. He acknowledged having intercourse with Martinez “a couple of times.”

Both defendants were arrested and remain in custody. Each are scheduled to make initial court appearances on Friday. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison.

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