Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 46-year-old Daniel A. Martinez of Buffalo was virtually arraigned this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on an indictment charging him with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, Class “A-I” felonies.

It is alleged that on September 30, 2020, at approximately 2:45 a.m., the defendant intentionally set a fire inside his girlfriend’s residence located on the first floor of a multi-family home on Concord Street in the City of Buffalo. The girlfriend’s mother, 66-year-old Maria Galazka, was in her bed at the time of the arson. She suffered multiple burns and smoke inhalation. She died at ECMC on November 5, 2020.  

One Buffalo firefighter was injured while fighting the blaze. He was taken to ECMC where he was treated and released. A resident who lived in the upper apartment was displaced, but unharmed.  

Martinez was remanded without a bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

If convicted on all charges, Martinez faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.  

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo Fire Department for their work in the investigation.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III of the DA’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney James M. Marra of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.