Attack victim’s aunt talks of border agent
Woman says that he didn’t act unusual
Erika Peña had known Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz for about four months. Her aunt, Marcela Rodriguez, said there was nothing unusual about him, and Peña knew Ortiz was in law enforcement. So when he picked up Peña on Friday on San Bernardo Avenue and paid her to have sex with him, she didn’t think twice about it, according to Rodriguez, who said she’s talked to Peña about that night. Investigators said Ortiz has admitted assaulting Peña and killing four women between Sept. 3 and Sept. 15. They’ve been identified as Melissa Ramirez, 29; Claudine Ann Luera, 42; Humberto Ortiz, 28; and Guiselda Alicia Cantu, 35. The Department of Public Safety released Cantu’s name Wednesday. Her body was discovered about 1 a.m. Saturday near mile marker 21 on Interstate 35. Rodriguez said she’s taken on the role of being her niece’s spokesperson. Peña lives with Rodriguez. “Erika said he was cheerful,” Rodriguez said. “I imagine he knew how to put up a front. She’d say that he was talkative, and he would talk to her. Then when everything happened, Erika had never seen him react the way he did.” When Juan David Ortiz took Peña to his home Friday, she brought up Melissa Ramirez, a friend of hers who was found slain Sept. 4. Ortiz appeared to become angry, Rodriguez said. Peña said she felt a “bad vibe,” got nauseous and went outside to vomit, according to her aunt. She then convinced Ortiz to go for a ride. While stopped at a gas station about 9 p.m., Peña mentioned Ramirez again. Arrest affidavits state that Ortiz then pointed a gun at Peña in the vehicle, which was stationary. Peña managed to escape from the vehicle and sought help from a Texas trooper, who happened to be refueling at the gas station. After investigators interviewed Peña, they issued a lookout for Ortiz and his white Dodge pickup. Two hours later, Ortiz was spotted at a gas station, according to reports. He fled on foot to a nearby hotel, where he was arrested without incident. Ortiz now faces four counts of murder. He also has been charged with assaulting and unlawfully restraining Peña. “This is the first time something like this has happened to her,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know what went through her mind at that moment that made her strong enough to get through this and escape.” Rodriguez said this is a difficult time for her family. “It has been really difficult seeing her,” Rodriguez said. “Erika is really traumatized. … She doesn’t want to eat. She always wants someone to be with her. She doesn’t want to be alone because she’s afraid.” Peña was friends with the four victims, Rodriguez said. She was closest to Humberto Ortiz, a transgender woman she knew as Janelle. “We don’t know what his motive was for committing this type of horrific crime,” Rodriguez said. “No matter what these women worked in, no one deserves to end their lives this way. On behalf of Erika and all of our family, we send our condolences to all the families of the victims. Be strong. There are no words, but only God will heal them.” Rodriguez also asked that Peña be viewed as a victim. “I don’t want the community to see her as just a hero,” Rodriguez said. “She is also a victim that thankfully was able to escape from the situation. Rodriguez has created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for Peña’s psychological and medical expenses.