Help me. Help me. >> This truck right here is matching with the potential with the with the murders that's been happening within the past two weeks. Hey, hey, hey. Joshua shot him. >> He can't do that, bro. >> Yeah, he can. He He just >> Yeah, you can. >> I'm telling you to walk away. You're not listening to me. >> 911. >> Hi. Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm here driving by Jeff Road. I believe I found there a dead body there. On September 3rd, 2018, the Web County Sheriff's Office received this chilling 911 call. Examining the crime scene, detectives realized that they were dealing with someone very experienced and professional. What they didn't know was that this crime scene was just the beginning of a horrific killing spree carried out by one of their own. >> [snorts] >> That dead body that was sprawled out and left on a rural road in Larredo, Texas, belonged to a woman who loved singing 80s ballads at the top of her lungs. She loved getting into tickle fights with her two children, and she loved staying up late with them to watch cartoons and giggle long into the night. Her name was Melissa Ramirez, and she was 29 years old. After being assaulted when she was just 13 years old, depression and substance use disorder took hold of her. She found herself working as a sex worker to support her habit. Right before her death, she told her family in tears that she wanted to make a better life for herself and her kids. She wanted a different job, a different way of life. And yet, at the same time, she was terrified. One of the last times she saw her family, she told them that she had had a dark premonition. She was going to be shot in the head and left for dead. Just two weeks later, that's exactly what happened. Police in Larredo discovered her in the early morning hours of September 3rd at the edge of a desolate street lined with desert sage and brush. She had been shot in the head several times and left fully clothed with no signs of a struggle nearby. Little did anyone know, Melissa's case would become only the tip of the iceberg. 10 days later, the Web County Sheriff's Office received a bone chilling 911 call. We've got county 911. >> Hey, I'm at uh I'm on Highway 255 >> and I've got a a female in the grass laying and I don't know if she's unconscious, but she is breathing right now. But there is blood all over the grass. Okay. She's still breathing. >> She's breathing. >> Yeah, she's breathing, but she's got blood all over the grass over here. So, y'all better send a paramedic and the police first. Police raced to the scene on the side of a rural road as quickly as they could. When they arrived, they were fortunate to find the woman still breathing. She had been shot and battered, but like the fighter that she was, she was still clinging to life. Her name was Cloudine Anne Luera, a mother of five who was also struggling on the streets. Turned out that Melissa Ramirez had been one of her closest friends. They would sit on a bench on the street they worked, sharing tacos, stories, clothes, and their hopes for the future. They had looked out for each other in a world that was particularly cruel to them. The same night that Melissa went missing, Cladine spotted her getting into a car with a man who she only knew as David. He was one of their regulars, a man they had both taken on as a client before. Cloudine may have survived the initial attack, but she was left in a coma. After clinging to life in the hospital for a few days, she succumbed to her injuries. With Cloudine's death, police knew now that they had a serial killer on their hands. The problem was they had no leads. Cloudine had passed before she was able to give them any information, and there were no clues at the scene of her crime or Melissa's. There was a ruthless murderer on the loose and they had no way of finding him. That is until he struck again. Officer Hernandez was pumping gas off duty when a woman ran toward him screaming for help. She was wearing nothing but a bra and a pair of pants. The fear on her face was bone chilling. Her name was Erica Pena, a 28-year-old sex worker who had been close friends with both Claudine and Melissa. and who also had David as a client. Real quick, let me just get something from you. Okay. All right. Okay, just >> All right, just hold on. Okay. So, I noticed Help me. Help me. Okay. on the Uh-huh. >> Are you sure he's not maybe standing around? Maybe I started getting very sick, sir. >> I started getting very because I haven't eaten all day. >> Yeah. >> Do you want a burger? If I'm going to stop real good. >> So, you know who he is? >> His name is David. >> You only know him as David or >> Yeah. >> Just relax. >> Don't worry. parking lot. Okay. So, I'm very scared. >> Don't worry. You're you're you're >> And how does he So, you knew this guy before? >> Yes. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay. Okay. He knew that I wanted to get off. And um he said she's kill her. >> Okay. What are you not Don't worry. Um we started talking about Okay. >> David only became hostile after she brought up her missing friends. With that detail, Officer Hernandez has his first clue about how serious this really is. >> When we went in his house, >> Yeah. >> I started my body, I started feeling very sick. I started shaking. Okay. Uhhuh. Okay. >> Oh, and don't worry, you're safe with me. Yeah, I have you. >> You're safe with me. Don't worry. >> Due to her shock, Pena's story is a bit unorganized, but when she eventually sits down with detectives, she's able to give them a timeline that is as clear as it is shocking. She had seen the suspect several times leading up to this incident. When she arrived at his house on the 14th, he asked her if she was scared of him. She could feel the tension, but also she felt a pang of bravery. She asked if he knew anything about Melissa Ramirez or Claudine Luera. Pena claims that as soon as she asked the question, his eyes darkened and he began to approach her. Unable to control her fear, she burst out of the house and vomited on the front lawn. Desperately trying to get away from him, she told him that she was sick and wanted to go get some cigarettes. perhaps not wanting to have a fight on the front lawn. Her customer, David, agreed to take her. On the way to the gas station, the tension escalated. By the time they reached the parking lot, Pena and David were screaming at each other. When Pena mentioned her friend's name again, David pulled a gun on her. She managed to wrangle out of his grasp, leaving her shirt behind in his tight grip on her, and she fled into the parking lot, screaming. In that instant, her life was saved. Since Pñena only knew the man as David, another officer takes her for a drive around the neighborhood, hoping that she can find the house he took her to. This is academy. >> Walmart. >> Okay. Well, just just tell me. Get us while I'm going to go over there. Let me know. Okay. Okay. Well, just just just relax. So, you're doing good, okay? And I'm like, I just want to remind you, okay? And we're going to help you out. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I send him a text right now. >> You're not talking. >> Of course. Yeah. Okay. So, >> I remember that side. >> Yeah, that side. >> Do you remember this side right here? >> Um, yes. Because I I just want to make sure you get your help first. And if we have to drive around several times, but we'll go ahead and do that. Okay. Pa's concern about not being able to remember where his house is escalates as the ride continues. Her self-deprecation about her sense of direction is a good demonstration of just how nervous and vulnerable she feels in the cop car. After such a traumatic experience, finding her way in the dark is a challenge. Fortunately, she spots something familiar. So from that point on okay. >> All right then. Um that's good then. society. So when you went over there the first right >> cuz there's like several that's the thing. Okay. >> This is a four. >> Yeah. got sick. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's fine. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's perfect. Of course. Of course. >> No, they're fine. >> The fact that David went looking for Pñena at her house is incredibly concerning. Is it possible that he thought she had heard that he was the last one seen with Ramirez before she went missing? It's highly likely that David is trying to tie up loose ends. One of them being Pena herself. While Pena is questioned, law enforcement works fast to review security footage from the gas station where Pñena fled. And there it is, clear as day on the footage. A plate number on the truck that Pena ran out of. They run the plate, but as the owner pops up on the screen, they are in disbelief. The truck comes back registered to Juan David Ortiz. He's a wellrespected man in the community. He was in the Navy for 8 years. He's a man with a wife and three kids. And the most shocking of all, he works as an intelligence officer for border control. He's worked with them for 10 years. They can't believe that a man of his standing would do this. And yet his description matches the one that Pena gives them for the man that almost killed her. The area she said his house is in is exactly where Ortiz lives. Law enforcement have questions for Ortiz. Just hours after Pena is rescued, they storm his house to put him in handcuffs and bring him in for questioning. But shockingly, Ortiz is gone. He's left behind a cache of guns and ammo in his house. A chilling sign that he may not be done killing. The situation is growing more serious by the second. If Ortiz knows that law enforcement is on to him because Pñena escaped, there's no telling what he'll do. With the new found knowledge that he's been collecting weapons, police know that they have to find him fast. They put a bolo or be on the lookout on his car. Every officer they have available patrols the streets. keeping their eyes peeled for his white truck. In the wee hours of the morning, two officers spot Ortiz's truck at a gas station on the edge of Laredo. The two officers approach the truck. They are eager to take Ortiz into questioning, but it won't be easy. >> There's a truck right there. He walked inside. >> He walked inside? >> Yeah. 3845. >> 3845. I'm with uh I'm with Bradshaw making contact. All right. 104, bro. Where is it? Put your hands up. Turn around. Turn around. Turn around. Turn around. >> Stop right there. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. >> Stop. Is this your truck? Is this your truck? >> Okay. All right. Turn around. >> Turn around. >> Get on your knees. >> Turn around. I'll explain to you right now. Turn around. >> The young officer who was speaking to Ortiz is about to make a terrible mistake that will put countless people in danger. In a high-risisk situation like this, there is no need to explain from a distance what the arrest is for. Ortiz needs to be put in handcuffs and detained as quickly as possible. >> Okay. Okay. I'm going to explain to you. Okay, Brad, I'm going to do the talking. >> All right, sir. We got a positive ID with some this truck right here is matching with the potential with the with the murders that's been happening within the past two weeks. We want to we want to do an interview. We want to do some questioning. We just need for you to cooperate with us. Okay. All right, fine. Make my way. Just turn around and make my way this way. Okay. >> Turn around. >> Just turn around. Turn around. Please turn around. Hey, hey, hey. Watch out. Where's the animal? [panting] You're good. >> No, bro. He went inside here. He's in here. [panting] >> He's in here, bro. >> Yeah. >> He's in here, bro. Where is he? >> He's in here. >> Where? >> We don't know. That's where we lost him when he did the corner. He cut in. So, he's going to be on this right here. On this section right here. >> We We need a unit on that side, bro. >> Right there. >> David, come out. State police. >> Hey, >> what's up? >> Check that door to your right. >> Hey, I need one of y'all at that fence. One of y'all's got to stay at the fence, guys. >> David Ortiz, come out. >> He's got to be, bro. He could have made it all the way over there. >> The two exhausted officers come to the realization that there are several directions that Ortiz could have run. That puts them in a tight spot and it's only made worse by the calls that are soon flooding into the station. >> There's a body. I didn't stop because I have my baby with him with me, but uh there's a person laying on the ground right underneath the bridge. >> It might have been one of those homeless people maybe like just like uh under shelter just due to the rain. You don't you don't know. You don't you didn't see him move or anything? >> I didn't see him move. Like I said, I had my baby with me, so I didn't want to risk stopping. And uh but he didn't he he was in an awkward position. Also, he wasn't under the bridge. He was on the actual road. >> In the hours between Pena escaping Ortiz's truck and the police finding him at the gas station, Ortiz has already killed more people. Not just one woman, but two. 35-year-old Gizelda Alicia Hernandez Ku was shot by Ortiz underneath a bridge in the early dawn hours of September 15th. 28-year-old Janelle Ortiz, who wasn't related to Juan David Ortiz, worked the same streets as the other three victims. Beloved by everyone who knew her, she always seemed to be smiling and laughing. She fell prey to Ortiz less than a couple hours after Chel was shot. As the calls came into the station, it became clear that Ortiz was making his last stand. They couldn't have him out on the streets. They had to find him immediately. >> What was he wearing? >> Jeans. Jeans. Jeans. Uh, khaki shirt, bro. >> Jeans. >> [ __ ] Right here, dude. He could have made it all the way up here. That dog didn't bark until just now. Go down. >> I got top cover. Y'all go down. >> You have to go down again. >> Hey, you want to go in? Let's go. That's what we're trying for here. [ __ ] [ __ ] Oh, [ __ ] >> More officers arrive to search the property, as well as a lieutenant. He's aware that the officers have made a potentially fatal mistake by letting Ortiz go. Not only does Ortiz know that law enforcement is on to him, giving him nothing to lose, but he's also armed and dangerous. It's a recipe for disaster. I I I don't know, we don't know how he could have jumped. No, that's not it. We That's not it. He couldn't have made it 100%. He couldn't have made it 100%. 100% way. 100% bro. 100%. >> 100% sure he could make it. >> He could Bro, can you make this in 5 seconds after running uh one, two, three, three blocks? >> I don't know. >> I'm trying to think of other ways cuz right now we've got this unlocked. Okay, let's just say okay. Boom. I know what to do here. I'm going to go talk to the hotel. They got any camera? They're looking on some other guys approve it. >> Are you serious? >> Yeah. >> Brady went in there. >> So, and the military always taught to least path of resistance. So, jumping right there. Right there's one. This would be your second option. Yeah, the lady at the gas station. So, what he see y'all and just take off. >> No, he stopped. So, Brad tried the commands and then uh I was doing commands and did >> y'all go into the store to get him or outside? >> No, outside. So, then uh the guy was like, "Y'all, I know what y'all want. I don't know. Like, you got the wrong guy. I don't know." So, and I told Bradshaw, "Hey, Bradshaw, let me do the talking just so we won't have to, you know." So, of course, I mean, obviously, my journal is up. So, I'm like, "Oh, hey, you got to chill. over here for to interview you possible suspect from mur uh pos possible uh some victims or murder case and he's like no I don't know what you're talking about I was like okay just listen turn around so he turned around he's like okay just follow my uh and walk towards me and then he like bolted >> just shot him >> you can't do that bro >> he can he just >> Yeah. I'm serious. He's already armed. Okay. Two people. >> But but we don't know it was him. We don't know. Now we do, right? Obviously. But did you know at that point he was a plausible suspect? Right. Okay. >> Fortunately, a nearby neighbor believes he saw Ortiz slip through his alleyway. Suspecting that he is in a nearby parking lot, the officers get together to devise their plan. Going against someone who is not only armed but trained puts all of them at risk. 32. The reason why we're going this way, there's a building, went to a fire, firefight, we're shooting that way. We're going to hit the building. We don't Okay, listen. Keep that in mind. Uh, [ __ ] happens, we pull back, grab and pull back. All right. And we reassess and >> we're not going yet. Let me just get the final. Okay. Ariel, >> underneath here. >> It's not underneath here. It's not filled. It's pillars. Go inside. Go down. Talk to the person in front. Ask them how we can get to the bottom of this damn ramp. Go. Let me see. Get up. Watch the muscle. >> Hey, relax. >> Is this the subject? >> Yes, it is. >> Hold your hand. Relax. Relax. Relax. >> What's your name, bro? >> You already know. >> Huh? >> You already know. >> What's your name? >> You already know. >> All right. Let me see your face. What's your name? >> I got a picture. >> What's your name? >> What's your name? Take your shoes that way. Hey. >> Hey. Take him up. >> Get him up. >> Get him up. Sit him right here. >> Good job. That's what the [ __ ] I'm talking about. >> Finally, after two weeks of terror, Ortiz was finally in custody. Law enforcement had questions for him. And with Ortiz's initial resistance, the interrogation lasted over 10 hours. Though the majority of the footage is available, the audio quality makes it a challenge to make out exactly what is being said. However, there are a few places where Ortiz really makes his character known. Ortiz denied knowing Erica Pena or any of the women who were murdered. Though Pena's purse was in his truck, he claimed he had no idea where it came from. In addition, he claimed that he sometimes suffers from blackouts, which is likely something he said to try to use to his advantage later. If he claims he suffers from blackouts, he will later be able to say that he must have suffered from blackouts at the time of the crimes. In the middle of the interrogation, Ortiz seems to make fun of the officers who were chasing him. The cocky smile on his face speaks to the power he felt running from them and the narcissistic power he feels in the interrogation room. >> Damn. Who's the trooper I smoked? Man, the trooper couldn't keep up with me, dude. That means to work out some more, man. Two of them. [laughter] >> Two troopers, dude. I was [ __ ] running, dude. It's not uncommon for people who commit crimes of this magnitude to feel as though they are superior to others. In this case, Ortiz didn't only feel like he was superior. He felt that he had every right to decide what type of people deserve to live. After being worn down over the course of the interrogation and made to feel like he was understood, Ortiz finally admitted what he had done. Note that in the interrogation footage you're about to hear, you're going to hear reporters speaking over and repeating some of what's being said. >> The intersection of the Sanders and uh Christ is highly >> weird. Are you okay? Are you still around? because I would always go there, you know. Okay. So, we're pulling into the greenhouse. I'm saying, you know what? Yeah. Speaking of which, I thought I think Erica said, "Yeah, hey, that is her." >> There's freaking Erica. Everything kept going with nobody knew that she was Melissa. >> Melissa goes in. >> That house has like rules like they're in and out like in 5 seconds. >> She goes in and comes out. >> Hey dude, wake up. Dude, get up. Dude, get up. After a while, I'm like, "Okay, I'm just driving around. I get done. What the fuck?" And she got up complete deep [ __ ] sleep. Driving around like, "Fuck, man. What am I going to do with this bitch?" I drove to the hell medical center. There's cameras or cameras can see my truck. I was just going to film for New York and I'm like, "Fuck, man. Stop playing with this [ __ ] thing." >> I'm driving and uh and I'm driving. Yeah. You guys know what I'm saying? She pissed me off. No, she didn't pick me up. She was knocked out. She just [ __ ] out of here. >> My dump her. They're going to say I did something to her. >> Dump her right away. But then Erica with her. I'm like, "Fuck, dude." So I get 35. I'm driving and then I'm like, "Fuck, dude. I should have [ __ ] exited a long time ago." I exited at the 18 rest area. >> Where the rest are at? >> 83 north. >> I go under uh 25 and make a left. There's a pad right there for law enforcement sites. I turn around the moment turn around. >> Yeah. >> Where the [ __ ] are you? >> Stop. [snorts] >> [ __ ] stop. I have to go. >> Jeffrey. >> So I go in >> and you know that she got assault and then >> she got out >> and uh [clears throat] you know what? You know what? I knew that [ __ ] happens during the moment. I knew it's something that's relationships are not guys. There were times when we would do [ __ ] >> No, I know. I didn't get info from them unofficially and I was reported. >> I was reported. You remember what she was wearing? >> Yeah. You guys already know, man. She was wearing a brown tank top with black shorts and tennis shoes. You guys already know that. Ready? See a [clears throat] lot of people saying a lot of people said standing in that seat cuz then they [clears throat] did that a lot. It actually pissed people off a lot like that. And that's why when I told you like I know you didn't wake up that morning wanting to do that. I know that and I know that that should happen just for the moment. You know, one thing led to another. That's that's the truth. It all went down. >> Did you pull her out of the truck or she? >> She fell on her own and then she's all the time. >> Where the [ __ ] are we, dude? >> I told you. I was in the [ __ ] way. Are you a [ __ ] idiot or what? >> Are you an idiot? >> Idiot. [clears throat] >> What happened? So there you was pictures. Um I got in my truck and busted a U-turn. I'm talking Jeffrey. Oh no. like a three-point at 83 and I go straight to my house to my little wife and kids and I showered and I laid down and uh that's that night and then the next day I told police here and I lied. I don't know how the hell >> that even came about. >> Nobody nobody was detained, >> you know. That's That's something else in >> Okay, >> that's something else. But yeah, >> people take that out of context for >> Okay. Did Did anybody see your shirt? >> Just your your white truck. You never took your wife's truck and picked up. >> No. No. My wife my my truck, >> right? All these times that you picked up these girls, you were in your truck. >> Yeah. Okay. Erica Erica knows I was last night. She knew something and she tried to cover just remember you and I picked her up and >> [ __ ] [ __ ] correct she Melissa had something on her. Do you remember what she was holding holding? >> Yeah, she had something in her hand. You remember what it was? >> No. >> No. It was a type of food type of candy. something you want to pick up for her. What did she have? >> I bought her uh uh she like the Mexican uh No, it's not Cheetos. Uh sakis. >> She like the Mexican M&M. >> No, she got them from the house. >> The other she know I was coming or she didn't see coming. No, not she was she was in a deep sleep and then she woke up and she was just mouthing off. Yeah. >> And that's it. >> When she when she squat down and take a piss, she fell down, man. >> Let off with two rounds on there. >> Yeah. Did you let off with >> that? I [clears throat] know I didn't mean you did that and I was paranoid as a [ __ ] the next day I was like and I really did get up and shaved everything went to work um and then um the [ __ ] up part about it is internal [clears throat] we think it's a cop guys around the uh the place to see ran through a checkpoint where the cameras were down and of all the people that are there. the only one that has access to like hey Jay who gives a [ __ ] man I'm trying my best and they keep calling if anyone had access to it right so I lo the last time we went to the checkpoint over that was Um, >> do you remember how many times you shot it? >> You remember how much time? >> I tried twice. It makes a difference. It's going to be a good friend. >> No, I know. We know you don't. We know you need these girls. These girls will tell you buy them food. They know and I believe you and J completely fully that wasn't planned. I know that someone who serves their country the way you did a family man like that's not something you plan. That's the [ __ ] that goes wrong and it you know just you know gets out of control piles up on you. You probably felt like you had to do it cuz people have seen you earlier and it's just would have gotten out of him just you know you would have dumped her out at the hospital like you said. So then I felt bad about and I told I tried to convince myself um do this chick like I was told she had eight kids I know I was told she had eight and that the state has custody alone and I was just telling myself this chick she has a bunch of kids the state has them she's on the street all day every day and she's not said >> there's no reason to feel sorry for her. That sounds kind of >> It may be challenging to hear the officer suggest that Ortiz shouldn't feel bad for the women because of their profession, but it's actually the perfect way to get Ortiz to confess to his actions and motives without shame. Ultimately, Ortiz reveals to the detectives that he felt it was his duty to clean up the streets of Larredo and that he felt sex workers didn't deserve to live. Though he used their services, he had an immense hatred for them. Despite pleading not guilty to four counts of murder and one count of assault, Ortiz was sentenced to life in prison for the senseless murders [clears throat] of these women. Now, if you think this case was horrific, you need to check out my video on the psycho prison guard who got life in prison.