IN December 2022, Juan David Ortiz was found guilty of the 2018 murders of four women.
The former Border Patrol agent was finally caught after a fifth victim escaped and alerted the police.
Who is Juan David Ortiz?
Juan David Ortiz worked as a US Border Control supervisory agent before he was convicted of first-degree murder.
Additionally, he is an Iraq war veteran having served in the US Navy.
In 2018, Juan was convicted of killing four women he picked up within a time span of 12 days.
A jury of eight women and four men unanimously found Ortiz guilty.
Following the verdict, Ortiz’s attorney said he was coerced into a confession and that his client had been suffering from PTSD from his time in Iraq.
“Look at the guy in front of you, the guy who was there at the time: Broken, PTSD, migraine headaches, insomnia, nightmares,” began defense attorney Joel Perez.
He went on to say investigators “induced him, they confronted him, they promised him all these things. It was improper inducement.”
However, District Attorney Isidro Alaniz responded saying: “It is terrifying to have the enemy within the ranks of law enforcement.”
Who were Ortiz’s victims?
Ortiz claimed the lives of four women. These women included:
- Melissa Ramirez, 29
- Claudine Anne Luera, 42
- Guiselda Alicia Cantu, 35
- Janelle Ortiz, 28
Additionally, Ortiz went for a fifth victim but she managed to escape and testify against him in court.
His would-be fifth victim was Erika Peña.
She recalled running away from him and being able to make it to the front of a gas station store where a DPS Trooper was fueling his car.
Peña was able to provide the officer with the make and model of Ortiz’s car.
Officers quickly found the vehicle with Ortiz inside.
Once Ortiz saw the officers, he ran away on foot to a nearby parking garage, where he was eventually found in the bed of a random truck and arrested.
Where is Juan David Ortiz now?
Ortiz was officially convicted of all four murders on December 7, 2022.
He is currently serving his life sentence in prison without parole at the WF Ramsey Unit in Texas.
Prosecutors had previously decided not to seek the death penalty.
Ortiz was originally detained at the Webb County Jail however, he was transferred after receiving his verdict.
His case will be examined on the 20/20 broadcast The One Who Got Out.
The ABC special will air on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 9 pm ET.
Viewers can also stream the special the next day on Hulu.
ABC reports that the 20/20 episode “will explore the murders, the investigation, and the criminal trial.”
“It will include emotional interviews with the victims’ families and friends, as well as the investigators who brought them justice.”
Ortiz was previously the subject of NBC’s Dateline back on September 15, 2023.