Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Associated Press
LAREDO, Texas
A U.S. Border Patrol supervisor charged in the killings of four women knew the victims and targeted them for their vulnerability, authorities said Monday, as some feared more deaths at the hands of the agent remained undiscovered.
Though investigators didn’t detail Juan David Ortiz’s history with the women, who were believed to have been sex workers, they said he knew them before killing them and leaving their bodies by rural Texas roadsides during a 10-day string of violence.
“He had the trust of most of the victims that were involved in this killing,” said Chief Deputy Federico Garza of the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. “So he took that opportunity to commit this crime.”
Authorities said Ortiz grew convinced police were closing in on him, amassing weapons at his home for a possible confrontation. In the end, officers attempted to apprehend him at a gas station, but he fled to a nearby hotel parking lot. They said Ortiz tried to make his cellphone appear like a weapon in hopes of being shot by officers, but he was captured without incident about 2 a.m. Saturday.
Garza said he was confident “the killings will stop” because they had nabbed the right suspect.