Texas authorities charged a US Border Patrol supervisor with murder following what they called a two-week serial killing spree that left four female sex workers dead and ended when a fifth woman escaped at a gas station. Juan David Ortiz, 35, an intel supervisor for the Border Patrol, was charged with four counts of murder as well as aggravated assault and unlawful restraint, Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said. Ortiz was arrested after the fifth woman managed to flee. State troopers found Ortiz hiding in a truck in a hotel parking lot in Laredo at around 2am Saturday. "We do consider this to be a serial killer," Alaniz said. Alaniz said that after the suspect picked up the fifth woman she quickly realized that she was in danger. "When she tried to escape from him at a gas station that's when she ran into a (state) trooper," Alaniz said.
Authorities believe Ortiz killed all four women since Sept. 3, reports the AP. Alaniz said two were US citizens but the nationalities of the other two were not yet known. All were working as prostitutes and one was a transgender woman. Alaniz said investigators are still trying to determine a motive, but believe Ortiz 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. Ortiz was a 10-year veteran of the Border Patrol. CPB issued a statement saying that it was fully cooperating. "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.
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