On December 7, 2022, jurors in the murder trial of Juan David Ortiz (39) found the former Border Patrol agent guilty of murdering four sex workers in 2018. During his two-week spree, he worked as an intel supervisor for the CBP and claimed that he did what he did to “clean up the streets.”
GUILTY: Juan David Ortiz Convicted of Murdering 4 Sex Workers in Laredo in 2018 Slayings
Before deliberations, jurors were instructed that a murder charge could be considered for the deaths. Ortiz detailed his struggles with trauma after leaving the military and using drugs and alcohol to deal with it. Sex workers were added to the mix as he admitted to frequenting them.
However, Ortiz claims that he actually hated being around them and that he could feel himself reaching a breaking point as he cruised the same strip in downtown Laredo.
When he was arrested on September 15, 2018, he explained killing his last two victims just a few hours prior. It was actually his confession that put the Janelle Ortiz murder on their radar. Erika Peña, the last witness, was a friend of victim Melissa Ramirez who avoided being murdered on September 14.
His defense said that since Ortiz wasn’t “in his best state of mind”, his detailed confession shouldn’t be considered. Not only that, he wasn’t properly prepared to give his confession, according to attorney Joel Perez.
The state countered that Ortiz was educated in the law being a law enforcement officer and knew what he was getting into by sitting with his fellow law enforcers. It was also noted that he could’ve exercised his Fifth Amendment or lawyered up at any time.
Juan David Ortiz was sentenced to life without parole.
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