American Musician Arrested For Fatally Stabbing Model Wife

A member of an American chart-topping 1990s boy band was arrested Wednesday after bursting into a Texas police station and telling police his wife was dead and he needed a lawyer. Russell Neal, 40, had two smash hits including I Like the Way (The Kissing Game), which went to number 1 in 1991, when he was a singer with R&B group Hi-Five.

Now the platinum selling artist faces a murder charge after authorities found 24-year-old Catherine Martinez dead from apparent stab wounds and blunt force trauma in their Houston apartment.

According to KHOU, Neal told police he'd gotten into an argument with Martinez before he asked for an attorney and then clammed up.

A witness described the exceptionally docile scene to KTRK.

'He wasn't resisting arrest or fighting with them, or saying anything. When they brought him out in handcuffs, he was just as calm as can be and they just put him in a police car,' said Mary Alice Valencia, who works at a nearby bond office and is accustomed to seeing arrests.


Facebook user Wayne Head was in the police station when Neal entered and took photos of the former singer.

Head appears to claim in his error-filled post that Neal went so far as to admit he killed Martinez.
'[Neal] walk n an say he just killed his wife she at home deveased,' wrote Head.

Neighbors described the couple as seemingly happy, but one man speculated there was more than met the eye.

'Apparently a guilty conscience, a guilty conscience, a crime of passion,' neighbor Keenon Shufford told KTRK. 'You just never know, I think he just probably lost it.'

Martinez was described by neighbors as very beautiful and in fact she has a substantial internet presence from her work as a fitness model and aspiring boxer under the name Brasilia Martinez.


In a May interview with Mxymag, the up and coming young model admits her 'biggest flaw is being too caring.'

She had two sons who would sometimes be seen in the apartment complex, though it was unclear if the boys are Neal's.
In the Mxymag interview, Martinez calls them her 'princes.' 'I love my two princes, my family, and the loyal and hon­est peo­ple in my life,' she said.

A photographer who worked with Martinez posted a striking photo of her along with this message on Instagram:
'Still can't believe this but RIP @brasiliamartinez1990 gone way too soon . One of the realist people i knew with a strong work ethic and dope personality. Thank you for believing in me,' wrote D. Hinez.

Police said the children are now with family members. Neal was being held Thursday in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Russell Neal, far right, performed as part of the 90s R&B boy band Hi-Five

Russell Neal

Martinez was a beautiful aspiring fitness model and boxer