In a deeply disturbing and harrowing case of child abuse, a 10 year old girl was strangled on her birthday before her body was dismembered and set alight.

Victoria Martens was sexually abused by her own mother, as disclosed by an autopsy report published months after police uncovered the horrific crime scene.

Officers responding to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute arrived to find Victoria's partially wrapped remains smouldering in a blanket at Michelle's home in 2018, according to ABC7Chicago.

Michelle, aged 35, her boyfriend Fabian Gonzales, 31, and Gonzales' cousin Jessica Kelley, also 31, were arrested at the scene.

They faced charges of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in severe bodily harm or death, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The couple alleged that Kelley had attacked them with an iron on the night of the incident.

All three pleaded not guilty in court, yet Michelle admitted to one count of child abuse resulting in death.

She initially claimed that Victoria was given alcohol and methamphetamine "to calm her down so [Fabian Gonzales and Jessica Kelley] could have sex with her."

However, she subsequently withdrew this statement, and an autopsy established that only alcohol was present in Victoria's system, and not in quantities sufficient to cognitively impair her.

Authorities allege that Michelle Martens watched as Fabian Gonzales reportedly raped and killed her daughter. Court documents accuse Gonzales and his cousin, Jessica Kelley, of dismemberment.

Gonzales has denied any wrongdoing, with his solicitor, Tom Clark, stating, "It's tragic that this little girl was killed, but my position is Fabian Gonzales played no role in her death."

Gary Mitchell, the lawyer acting for Michelle Martens, disclosed that he had received the post-mortem results, noting that "some of that information in there we think is very beneficial to us and our defense."

Mark Earnest, Kelley's solicitor, declined to comment. Search warrants suggest that Michelle sought men online to assault her daughter.

Albuquerque police are yet to identify any of these individuals. Michelle accepted a plea deal for one count of child abuse resulting in death in 2018.

Nine charges against Fabian Gonzales, including second-degree murder and criminal sexual penetration, were dropped, leaving him facing solely child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence.

He was handed a sentence of 37-and-a-half years in prison and will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. Michelle received a 12-year prison sentence, but was released on Oct. 14.

Kelley pleaded guilty to several counts, including reckless child abuse resulting in death, and was handed a 44-year prison term in 2022. Despite this, she is expected to serve fewer than half of those years behind bars.