REPORT: Texas Sheriff Arrests Border Patrol Agent as Alleged Serial Killer

A Texas sheriff arrested a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Laredo and alleges he killed four women and abducted a fifth.

Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar told reporters at a news conference that he arrested U.S. Border Patrol Agent Juan David Ortiz early Saturday morning, the Associated Press reported. The agent is accused of killing four women and abduction a fifth, the report states.

Sheriff Cuellar told reporters that Agent Ortiz is a 10-year veteran supervisor of the Border Patrol. Deputies detained the agent following a two-week murder investigation following the discovery of the bodies of two women the agent is accused of killing, KGNS reported on Saturday. The Webb County Sheriff’s dispatched deputies to a location in another part of the county on Saturday morning where they found the body of a third female victim. Deputies recovered the body of a fourth woman shortly after noon on Saturday, the report states. That woman’s body was located near Interstate 35, north of Laredo.

Investigators found the first three bodies in a remote area in the northwest part of the county, the Laredo Morning Times reported.

A woman claiming to be another victim of the agent’s alleged attacks escaped from Ortiz and contacted law enforcement.

Sheriff Cuellar told reporters that Ortez fled from Texas Department of Public Safety troopers who later found him hiding in a hotel parking lot in Laredo, KTRK ABC13 reported. The sheriff described the veteran Border Patrol agent as a “serial killer.”

The Webb County District Attorney’s Office told reporters that all of the victims were prostitutes. At this time, officials said they do not expect to find any additional bodies. They also said Ortiz is believed to have been working alone.

“We have probable cause to believe that he is responsible for this series of murders, which I would qualify as a serial murder,” District Attorney Isidro Alaniz told reporters.

Agent Ortiz is now in custody in the Webb County Sheriff’s Office jail and stands charged with four counts of murder and a single count of aggravated kidnapping, Sheriff Cuellar stated.

Texas Rangers are taking the lead on the investigation at this time, officials stated.

Police identified one of the victims as 29-year-old Melissa Ramirez of Laredo. Investigators found her body on September 4. Police did not disclose her cause of death.

The second victim, 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera, was located alive along Texas Highway 255 near mile marker 436. Paramedics rushed the woman to a local hospital in critical condition. She later died from her wounds, the Laredo newspaper reported. She is reported to have suffered head trauma. The other victims’ identities have not yet been released.

The Laredo Police Department issued the following statement on Saturday afternoon:

We want to reassure the citizens of Laredo that the community and your families are safe. There has been a recent breakthrough in the investigations and there has been someone detained. That information belongs to the corresponding agencies who are handling the information and will make a more in depth release at the appropriate time. We value the release of timely information and we are making this notice public in order to remove any unnecessary fear in the community.

There will be information made available very soon by those agencies who are in charge of the case. (In the) meantime we maintain our city’s safety and security and our responsibility to make you feel safe as well.

The Associated Press reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials confirmed Ortiz is a supervisory Border Patrol agent.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Andrew Meehan issued the following statement Saturday afteroon:

In the early morning hours of September 15, 2018, the Texas Rangers arrested a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent. There are charges pending related to multiple homicides in the Laredo area. This is an ongoing investigation, involving the Texas Rangers and the Webb County Sheriff’s office. CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and United States Border Patrol are fully cooperating with all investigators. The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General has been notified and is working with investigators. At this time, any questions regarding this investigation should be referred to the Texas Rangers. CBP will provide more information when available.

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.  Out of respect to the victims’ family and friends, we ask that deference and due process be given to the investigation so that all the facts are brought to light and they can receive the closure they deserve.

Laredo Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens tweeted, “Heartbreaking day for many families & for our Laredo Community. We grieve with them. We stand beside them, & we will do everything possible to ensure that justice is served.”

Editor’s Note:  This article has been updated with a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.