Ricky Martin’s nephew, who has accused him of incest and abuse, has ‘mental health problems’, according to the Livin’ La Vida Loca singer’s brother.
The revelation comes amid new claims that Ricky’s nephew Dennis Yadiel Sanchez has a lengthy criminal record in his native Puerto Rico and once threatened to kill a female co-worker.
Fox3Now reports that Sanchez’s colleague Claudia Ramrez Martell even took out a restraining order against him after he became ‘obsessed’ with her, repeatedly turning up outside their workplace saying he planned to murder her.
On Friday, Ricky’s brother Eric Martin claimed in a Facebook Live video that Sanchez ‘has mental problems’.
The Latin singer’s older brother said that the 21-year-old, who is now estranged from the family, had hurt other relatives.
He added that the family had been struggling to cope with Sanchez’s deteriorating mental health issues but that he was ‘tired of being quiet’ about them, though he said that he and his family still loved their troubled nephew.
Eric’s claims echoes what Martin’s legal team told DailyMail.com on Friday, which is that Sanchez is ‘struggling with deep mental health challenges’ and outright dismissed the ‘disgusting’ allegations.
The scandalous claims against the She Bangs singer emerged after Sanchez, the son of Vanessa Martin, the pop singer’s half-sister, filed a restraining order against his uncle Ricky on July 1.
The order related to a domestic violence incident in Puerto Rico but the victim’s identity had been withheld. Eric has since identified the alleged victim as Sanchez, Spanish news outlet Marca reported.
Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, 21, who has accusing Ricky Martin, of incest
Eric Martin, Ricky’s younger half-brother, posted videos to social media in the wake of the explosive accusations of ‘exercising physical and psychological attacks’ on Dennis Yadiel Sanchez during their seven-month relationship, which ended about two months ago
Dennis Yadiel Sanchez Martin, son of Vanessa Martin, in 2018
Eric Martin posted this photo to Facebook in 2020, praising Sanchez for his physical fitness efforts
Ricky Martin (pictured with painter Jwan Yosef, right, who he has been married to since 2017) has denied all the allegations
Sanchez has since claimed Ricky was ‘exercising physical and psychological attacks’ on him during their alleged seven-month relationship, which he says ended about two months ago.
The singer has denied the claims.
‘Ricky Martin has, of course, never been – and would never be – involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew,’ lawyer Martin Singer said Friday.
‘The idea is not only untrue, it is disgusting. We all hope that this man gets the help he so urgently needs. But, most of all, we look forward to this awful case being dismissed as soon as a judge gets to look at the facts.’
A representative for the married father-of four, 50, previously called the abuse allegations ‘completely false and fabricated’ in a statement provided to People earlier this month.
The star, who was spotted in Los Angeles Friday on the set of his new AppleTV+ miniseries, is expected in Puerto Rican court on July 21 for his trial.
Martin’s accuser, believed to be Sanchez, filed a restraining order against the singer on July 1 under Puerto Rico’s domestic violence law.
Eric Martin says their nephew has mental health problems and is estranged from their family, though Eric says he still loves his nephew
The singer’s brother, Eric Martin, identified his nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, as being Martin’s accuser. Sanchez is the son of Martin’s half-sister, Vanessa. Eric and Ricky are pictured together in a photo posted to Facebook in 2014
The order prohibited Martin from contacting or calling the petitioner who allegedly ‘fears for his safety.’
According to the order – which was reviewed by El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper – Martin and Sanchez broke up two months ago after dating for seven months.
Sanchez alleged Martin didn’t accept the separation and has been seen loitering near his house on least three occasions, according to the order reviewed by El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper.
He also alleged Martin had been ‘consuming large amounts of alcohol and drugs.’
The protective order was signed on July 1, after authorities visited Martin’s neighborhood in the north coastal town of Dorado to try to serve him, police spokesman Axel Valencia previously told The Associated Press.
Valencia noted the person who filed for the restraining order didn’t contact police, which would have involved prosecutors determining if there was enough evidence to file charges. Rather the request went straight to the court.
Puerto Rican law takes allegations of incest very seriously. If the alleged romance between Martin and Sanchez is confirmed, the singer could face up to 50 years in prison for incest charges.
Martin addressed the accusations on Twitter on July 3, saying: ‘The protection order entered against me is based on completely false allegations, so I will respond through the judicial process with the facts and the dignity that characterize me.
‘Because it is an ongoing legal matter, I cannot make detailed statements at this time. I am grateful for the countless messages of solidarity, and I receive them with all my heart.’
He has not made any additional statements regarding the accusations.
Martin addressed the accusations on Twitter on July 3 calling them ‘completely false’
Martin could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted of incest charges in Puerto Rico, reports indicate. Pictured alongside his husband, Jwan Yosef, and their two eldest sons, Matteo and Valentino, in September 2019
Martin has been married to Syrian-born Swedish painter, Jwan Yosef, since 2017.
The couple shares four children: 13-year-old twins, Valentino and Matteo, as well as Lucia, three and Renn, also three.
In June 2021, Martin talked about his family while shutting down rumors they were expecting another child.
‘I don’t hide anything nowadays. We are not pregnant,’ Martin told People at the time. ‘Right now, we’re dealing with a pair of twins and a pair of Irish twins because Lucia and Renn are only nine months apart. And they’re overwhelming, but we’re strong and healthy.’
Still, he said they wanted ‘more’ kids in the future, and they have ’embryos frozen.’