New Findings Show Life of Border Patrol Agent who Confessed to Killing 4 People
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LAREDO – The Laredo Sector Border Patrol agent who allegedly confessed to killing four people is educated and experienced, according to his Navy records.
Several areas of the documents were redacted, but it shows Juan David Ortiz served in the Navy from July 5, 2001 to May 4, 2009.
He became skilled enough to be an instructor.
Ortiz left a trail of victims in Laredo in September.
He was a Border Patrol agent since 2009, the same year he was discharged from the Navy.
He enlisted in 2000 and was sent on multiple assignments; that is the reason why authorities thought there could be more victims.
The history of assignments included Texas, Illinois and California.
District Attorney Isidro Alaniz, his prosecutor, said they're not ruling out the possibility of victims elsewhere, but they believe his crimes were contained.
"We do right now believe that the crimes are pretty much focused here in Laredo," said Alaniz.
Ortiz is an uncommon suspected killer.
"He did possess specialized skills and education,” said Alaniz.
His distinctions while in service include a sharpshooter and rifle and pistol marksman ribbons.
Felix Rodriguez, a Vietnam veteran experienced in military intelligence reviewed Ortiz's file with us.
"The highest award that you can be awarded when you qualify with weapons is that of an expert,” he said.
According to the records, Ortiz was in the first marine division detachment in 2002 through 2005.
"Not only that being assigned to a marine detachment or unit, but he was also an instructor," Rodriguez explains.
Ortiz served as a field medical service technician for seven years and four months. He was an instructor for three years and 10 months.
Listed under the instructor positions, we find pre-hospital trauma life support, rappel master, instructor combat casualty care course and range safety officer.
Alaniz doesn't know if those skills gave Ortiz an advantage in the crimes, but they helped cast suspicion elsewhere.
"All of his skills and his education, his position with his employment, obviously he would've been somebody who would never have been suspected of doing these types of crimes,” said Alaniz.
His skills and position will continue to be investigated, but it likely won't create a profile of a killer.
"It's not common that we get people with this type of level or service or education. But, at the same time, anybody has the capacity to do this," said Alaniz.
The Webb/Zapata County District Attorney's Office is working on securing an indictment by December when they plan to take it before a grand jury.
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