Juan David Ortiz (born 1983)[1] is an American serial killer and former Border Patrol agent who murdered four sex workers in Texas in September 2018. He was caught and arrested after a potential victim escaped and alerted police.[2]
Juan David Ortiz | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 22, 1983 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Convicted serial killer |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Spouse | Daniella J. Ortiz (née Guajardo) |
| Children | 3 |
| Conviction(s) | Capital murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without parole |
| Details | |
| Victims | 4 |
Span of crimes | September 3 – 15, 2018 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Texas |
| Location(s) | Webb County |
Personal life
editOrtiz was a member of the United States Border Patrol for ten years,[2] where he worked as an intelligence operator. He is also a United States Navy veteran.[3] He had no reported disciplinary issues while he served.[4] He and his wife had three children. He earned a bachelor's degree from American Military University and a master's degree from St. Mary's University in Texas.[5]
The Sheriff's Chief Deputy said Ortiz planned to commit suicide by cop, stocking up on weapons and trying to goad police with his phone when arrested.[4] In the hours before his arrest, he posted two goodbyes to people he knew on Facebook.[4]
Arrest
editOn September 14, 2018, Erika Pena had escaped from Ortiz's vehicle after he threatened her with a gun. The shirtless Pena ran towards a state trooper who happened to be at the same gas station pumping gas. She relayed all of the information to the officer and named the perpetrator as David and provided the make and model of his car. A BOLO was then put out and officers later found David's car at a nearby convenience store while an unsuspecting David was close by. Once officers saw David one of them explained him from a distance that his vehicle is connected with murder cases. After that, David ran on foot to a nearby parking garage of the Ava Hotel where he was found in the bed of a truck and arrested.[6]
Victims
editOrtiz committed the following homicides:[7]
- Melissa Ramirez, 29, killed on September 3, 2018
- Claudine Anne Luera, 42, killed on September 13, 2018
- Guiselda Alicia Hernandez Cantu, 35, killed on September 15, 2018
- Janelle Ortiz, 28, killed on September 15, 2018
He is also suspected of kidnapping another woman, who escaped. The five victims were sex workers; all victims were women, and one was transgender.[3] Ortiz confessed after his arrest that he had started killing on September 3 and that he personally knew the first two victims.[3] He allegedly killed the other two on the morning of September 15 in the five hours between the assault on the escaped woman and his capture.[8]
Ortiz confessed to picking up a mother of two named Melissa Ramirez on September 3. She was 29 years old. After driving down a rural county road in Webb County, two miles outside the city, Ramirez got out of the vehicle to urinate, when Ortiz says he shot her multiple times.[8] Her body was discovered the next day.[9]
Ten days later, Ortiz allegedly picked up 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera, a mother of five.[9] After she confronted him about the disappearance of her friend Ramirez, she was getting out of his vehicle when he shot her in the head. She was found alive but died hours later in the hospital.[8]
The last two victims were found on a five-mile stretch of Highway 35. Ortiz confessed to investigators that he took them in two trips from Laredo and killed them in similar manners. He led police to the site of the crime.[8] Unlike Ramirez and Luera, he had no prior contact with these victims.[9]
Aftermath
editOrtiz has been charged in Webb County with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,[9] and was later indicted on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest.[10] Ortiz has confessed to the four murders and fifth attempted murder to investigators,[11] and allegedly has led investigators to one of the bodies. During interviews with investigators, Ortiz reportedly expressed a hatred of prostitutes.[5] Investigators have stated that they have not ruled out the possibility that Ortiz had additional victims.[7]
In January 2019, Ortiz pleaded not guilty on four counts of murder and one count of assault, despite giving a taped confession to investigators.[12]
In October 2022, the District Attorney announced that he will not seek the death penalty against Ortiz.[13]
Ortiz's trial began November 28, 2022.[14]
On December 7, 2022, Ortiz was convicted in all four murders and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[15]
References
edit- ^ Biography of Juan David Ortiz, apnews.com. Accessed November 18, 2022.
- ^ a b "US 'serial killer' border agent arrested in Texas". BBC News. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c Hart, Benjamin (September 16, 2018). "Border Patrol Officer Suspected of Killing Four Women in Texas". Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c Silva, Daniella (September 17, 2018). "Border Patrol agent accused of serial killings wanted to 'commit suicide by cop,' officials say". NBC News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Jervis, Rick (September 17, 2018). "Border Patrol 'killer' agent befriended prostitutes before killing them". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ Zavala, Elizabeth (November 29, 2022). "In serial killing trial, jurors see video of Border Patrol agent fleeing from DPS troopers". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ a b McLaughlin, Eliott C. (September 18, 2018). "Investigators are not confident they've found all Border Patrol agent's victims". CNN. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Horton, Alex (September 16, 2018). "A woman's daring escape from a Border Patrol agent helped reveal a 'serial killer', police say". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Border Patrol agent jailed on $2.5M bond in killings of 4 women in Texas". CBS News. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ Silva, Daniella (December 5, 2018). "Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz indicted on capital murder charge in deaths of four women". NBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Stelloh, Tim (September 17, 2018). "Border Patrol agent confesses to killing 4 sex workers in two-week spree". NBC News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ Salas, Maria (January 11, 2019). "Accused Border Patrol agent pleads not guilty to killing 4 women, assaulting another". LMT Online. Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "DA not seeking death penalty against alleged serial killer". October 5, 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Border Patrol agent accused of killing 4 goes on trial". AP NEWS. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Border Patrol agent convicted of killing 4 women in Texas". AP NEWS. December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
External links
edit- Juan D. Ortiz Jail Record, Webb County Sheriff's Office
- Press conference - Webb County Sheriff's Office (September 17, 2018)