State fire investigator helps expose the truth behind a child’s murder

The killer of a 4-year-old girl tried to hide evidence of his crime by setting a house on fire. An investigation by a State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) employee helped lead to his conviction.

Sergeant Kelly Vandygriff sensed this was no ordinary fire the moment he arrived at the smoldering home in the Texas Panhandle. A veteran fire investigator with SFMO, Vandygriff had driven three hours from Lubbock to assist in the investigation at the request of Perryton police.

“Almost immediately there was evidence of a crime,” Vandygriff said.

Suspicions arose when firefighters extinguishing the blaze found the body of 4-year-old Hope Raley in the master bedroom and located an occupant of the home, Humberto Martinez, hiding in a crawl space beneath it.

Lending expertise to local law enforcement

SFMO conducts fire investigations across all 254 counties in Texas at the request of local authorities and other state agencies, including the Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Forest Service, and Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Each SFMO investigator, including Vandygriff, handles an average of more than 30 fire cases per year, providing specialized support to agencies in need of additional expertise.

“Any time there’s a loss of life, we make it a priority to be on the scene as quickly as possible,” Vandygriff said. “We’re there to carefully process the scene, follow the evidence, and help bring clarity to what happened.”

SFMO has 17 commissioned fire investigators and five ignitable liquid detection canine teams ready to respond wherever they’re needed. All are trained to uncover the truth behind suspicious fires. In 2025, SFMO investigators collectively responded to 80 fatality fires involving 89 victims statewide.

Vandygriff brings a wealth of experience to his work, with 37 years in the Abernathy Volunteer Fire Department, where he now serves as fire chief, and 19 years with SFMO.  

A recognized leader in the field, he served six years as a commissioner on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection board, appointed by the governor. He is also a past president of the West Texas Fire and Arson Investigators Association and a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

At the Perryton scene, Vandygriff met up with a Texas Ranger and they were later joined by fellow SFMO investigator Sgt. Billy Lang — who worked alongside his canine partner, Kira. Together, they combed through the charred remains of the home, collecting evidence, and evaluating all possible causes.  

After ruling out accidental ignition sources, Vandygriff determined the fire was intentionally set, with a lighter and nearby combustibles used to ignite the mattress where Hope’s body was found.

An autopsy witnessed by Vandygriff later determined young Hope had been strangled to death before the fire was set.

Finding justice for Hope

Though Vandygriff has spent 32 years in law enforcement, cases involving children still weigh heavily on him. “You never get used to scenes like this,” he said. He takes some solace in knowing that careful investigative work can help families find answers.

That work proved crucial in this case when the combined efforts of local law enforcement, Texas Rangers, and SFMO investigators helped secure the March 2026 conviction of Martinez. The Panhandle man pleaded guilty to capital murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

“Our team’s work helped reveal the truth in a complex and tragic case, bringing justice and closure to the victim’s family,” said State Fire Marshal Debra Knight. “Investigations like this demonstrate the critical role the SFMO plays in uncovering the facts behind suspicious fires.”

Learn more

Texas man gets life after State Fire Marshal’s Office finds arson used to hide murder