Juan David Ortiz fled from state troopers and was found hiding in a hotel parking lot in Laredo, Texas at around 2am Saturday
New details have emerged in the arrest of a ‘serial killer’ border patrol agent who launched a two-week murder spree, and was set to kill a fifth woman until she escaped his grasp and alerted authorities.
Juan David Ortiz, 35, was arrested on Saturday morning and by evening was charged with murder in the killings of four female sex workers, as well as aggravated assault, unlawful restraint.
The 10-year Border Patrol veteran fled state troopers and was found hiding in a truck in a hotel parking lot in Laredo, Texas around 2am.
Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said investigators have ‘very strong evidence’ that he was the killer behind the four prostitutes – one of whom was a transgender woman.
‘We do consider this to be a serial killer,’ Alaniz said.
Although authorities haven’t revealed how he conducted the killings, cops say they were all killed in a similar fashion. All the murders took place when he was off-duty and in his car – a white four-door Dodge truck.
He was outed after he picked up a fifth woman who later escaped his clutches and alerted police.
US Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz was arrested in Webb County, Texas, on Saturday morning as authorities say he suspected of murdering of four women and the abducting a fifth. The first victim, 29-year-old Laredo resident Melissa Ramirez, is pictured
‘He picked [the fifth woman] up, she went willingly with him and then while she was with him things started to get dangerous for her and when she tried to escape from him at a gas station that’s when she ran into a trooper,’ Alaniz said to the Texas Tribune.
‘In our opinion he is the sole person responsible for this horrific serial killing spree,’ he added.
Ortiz launched his alleged spree of killings on September 3.
Authorities didn’t disclose the victims’ names or nationalities and they declined to discuss the evidence or say how the women were killed – but local media outlets have linked them to at least three bodies found in the area over the last two weeks.
Three bodies have been found in the northwest area of the county this month, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said.
Cops gather at the scene of where a dead woman’s body was found near Interstate 35 north of Laredo, Texas on Saturday
Cops arrested Ortiz on Saturday after they found him hiding in a truck at a hotel parking lot in Laredo, Texas at 2am
The first victim was identified as 29-year-old Laredo resident Melissa Ramirez, whose body was found on September 4.
Investigators have not disclosed her cause of death.
On Thursday, 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera was found fatally wounded off a roadway not far from where the previous body was found.
Luera was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead from fatal head trauma.
Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the killings. It is believed Ortiz targeted these women and acted alone.
‘It’s interesting that he would be observing and watching as law enforcement was looking for the killer, that he would be reporting to work every day like normal,’ Alaniz said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement saying that it was fully cooperating with the investigation.
‘Our sincerest condolences go out to the victims’ family and friends. While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated,’ the agency said.
An investigation is ongoing by Texas Rangers of the Texas Department of Public Safety.