When Russell Lamont Neal skyrocketed to limelight as part of the ’90s R&B sensation group, Hi-Five, he looked like the picture-perfect boy-band kinda guy. He was clean-cut, looking like to have a ‘good guy’ persona…at least from the outside looking end.
Well, as we all know, everything ain’t always what it looks like…that rule of thumb holds true for Lamont, and also for his brother, Ronald Neal. Both men are currently doing time for reportedly killing their wives, and this story only gets more heartbreaking from here.
In June 2014, Russell recently confessed to murdering his 24-year-old-wife – fitness model and aspiring boxer, Catherine “Brasilia” Martinez.
Russell was living in Houston, TX at the time of the incident. Houston police said that he walked into the Houston sheriff’s department building and said something like ‘My wife is dead.
I would like an lawyer.’ He then calmly waited for the cops to question him and take him away. The police eventually arrested him without incident.
One witness said “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.”
After Russell was booked, he told police Catherine’s body was at their house at the apartment complex. Police said they had to break the door down and once inside, they discover Catherine Martinez, dead on the living room floor with so many stab wounds and blunt force trauma injuries to her head.
Her body was fully covered with a blanket and her autopsy results showcased that she passed away from puncture wounds. He was later released on $100,000 bond as he awaited trial.
As per to court records, Russell’s and Catherine’s two young children were in the home during the homicide. Catherine’s family says one of their children allegedly walked out of their room during the attack, and that Russell allegedly told his child that the red stains (allegedly Catherine’s blood) on his shoes was “ketchup”…before sending the child back into the room.