In 2018, a shocking series of events unfolded in Laredo, Texas when Juan David Ortiz, a U.S. Border Patrol Supervisory Agent, was found guilty of capital murder after twelve days of committing horrific crimes against multiple women. This trial was full of drama and emotion, ending with a heartbreaking and unanimous jury decision to convict Ortiz and sentence him to life in prison. Read on to learn more about this heartbreaking case and the many details that led to this verdict.
Overview of Case
In 2018, U.S. Border Patrol Supervisory Agent Juan David Ortiz was arrested for committing several horrific and gruesome crimes in Laredo, Texas. After twelve days of nonstop terror, the jury unanimously convicted him of capital murder and sentenced him to life in prison. During the trial there were several dramatic events that had the entire courtroom on edge, including a witness treating a fainting juror, and a revealing jailhouse phone call that further incriminated Ortiz. After five hours of deliberation, the jury was able to convict Ortiz.
The Crimes Committed by Juan David Ortiz
Juan David Ortiz was accused of preying on women in the Laredo area and picking them up on the street. Over the course of twelve days, he would end their lives with a close-range gunshots to the head. It is believed that Ortiz targeted women in the area, specifically vulnerable women who had nowhere else to turn. He earned the title of a serial killer and was eventually convicted of capital murder.
Witness Accounts of Juan David Ortiz Crimes
During the trial, several witnesses came forward to give accounts of what they had seen. One witness stated that he saw Ortiz pick up women, and then later heard about them being murdered. He also testified that he had seen Ortiz drive up to remote locations in Webb County, where the women were eventually killed. Another witness reported that Ortiz had confessed to her about his crimes, listing all the victims he had murdered.
Unveiling Evidence During the Courtroom Drama
The trial was filled with court-room drama and shock revelations that stunned all present in the court. One such event was when a doctor was called to treat a fainting juror. This incident caused a halt in proceedings and allowed the defense to request an alternate juror. In addition to this, a phone call that Juan David Ortiz had made to his mom in jail also incriminated him further. This evidence solidified the decision to sentence him to life in prison.
Sentencing of Juan David Ortiz
After a five-hour deliberation, and following all the evidence, the jury unanimously voted to convict Juan David Ortiz for the capital murder. A devastated Ortiz could only look on in shock as Webb County Judge Oscar Hale read out the verdict. This verdict caused the 20 or so family members of the victims to cry out and gasp loudly in the background. Ortiz’s mother, seated in the row behind his defense team, collapsed into the arms of a relative, sobbing loudly. Following the conviction, Ortiz was sentenced to life in prison, and no longer a threat to the vulnerable women of Laredo.
