U.S. Border Agent Juan David Ortiz 'Confesses to Murders'

border patrol agent confesses to four murders

A border patrol agent who has been accused of murdering four women and assaulting a fifth has confessed to the crimes, police said. 

Police say Juan David Ortiz, 35, admitted to authorities that he was responsible for murdering four women who worked as prostitutes according to an affidavit provided to the Washington Post. 

Ortiz has been charged with four counts of murder, aggravated assault and unlawful restraint. All of Ortiz's victims were sex workers, and there were signs that at least some of them had been specifically targeted. 

"We consider this man to be a serial killer who was preying on one victim after another," Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said at a press conference.  

During an update Monday afternoon, Sheriff's Chief Deputy Federico Garza said police believe Ortiz wanted to 'commit suicide by cop.' 

"He had numerous, numerous weapons - he was loading up all these weapons things that DPS was going to confront him and he was looking at a confrontation. Thank God that didn't happen," Garza said. 

Police arrested Ortiz after a woman escaped from his truck and ran to alert a nearby state trooper. The suspect took off and was later spotted by police at a gas station. He then fled to a nearby hotel parking lot where he took refuge under a pickup truck there. 

"He was going to try to commit suicide by cop, he tried to use his phone to make it look like it was a weapon," Garza said. "It didn't happen, he was arrested without incident." 

Police say once Ortiz was in custody, he made a "voluntary, verbal confession" to the murders and assaults that took place over a two-week period. 

Ortiz is being held on a $2.5 million bond for the four murders. 

The first two victims were identified as U.S. citizens, but authorities have not released any details about the other two other than to say they were also involved in the sex trade. 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency issued a statement, saying they were currently cooperating with investigators. 

"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," said Andrew Meehan, a spokesman for the agency. "Our sincerest condolences go out to the victims’ family and friends."

Webb County-Zapata County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz says Ortiz is believed to have killed all four women since Sept 3. The identities of the victims have not been immediately released. 

"In our opinion he is the sole person responsible for this horrific serial killing spree," Alaniz said. 

Authorities say the killings took place while Ortiz was off-duty and in his own vehicle, a white four-door Dodge truck. 

Photo: Webb County Sheriff’s Office


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