The U.S. Border Patrol officer arrested on charges of kidnapping and murder Saturday may have killed four women just in the last two weeks.
Juan David Ortiz, a supervisor with the Border Patrol, is alleged to have started what Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz termed a “killing spree” on Sept. 3, reported The Texas Tribune. Alaniz said all of the women were sex workers; one was transgender and two were U.S. citizens.
Ortiz was arrested Saturday in Laredo after a fifth woman escaped.
“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, per the Tribune. “In our opinion he is the sole person responsible for this horrific serial killing spree.”
Alaniz told the Tribune that Ortiz was off duty and in his own vehicle during the killings.
“It’s not a reflection of Border Patrol, they do a great job protecting our borders they’re super professional and the work they do is important,” Alaniz said.
A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the Border Patrol is fully cooperating with investigators and expressed “sincerest condolences” to the victims’ family and friends.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, called on Twitter for Congress and the Inspector General to “immediately investigate” whether Ortiz used any Customs and Border Protection resources in his alleged crimes.
Congress and the Inspector General must immediately investigate whether this man used any of the resources of the @CBP to help commit these murders. https://t.co/zzLdDDzezI
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) September 16, 2018
Anna Giaritelli contributed to this report.
