Woman arrested for voluntary manslaughter
A Taos woman is facing voluntary manslaughter and child abuse charges – all third degree felonies – after allegedly stabbing her partner while their children were present, according to court documents.
Taos Police arrested Josie Ortega, 34, just before midnight on May 12 for allegedly stabbing Victor Segura, 37, at the Tierra Montosa Apartments on Gusdorf Road. According to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court, officers responded to a report of a domestic violence-related stabbing at 11:30 p.m. and arrived at the apartment building to find blood on the ground, but no one around.
After talking with the children on scene, they learned that Ortega had left with Segura in their car to head to the hospital. Officers met up with the couple and New Mexico State Police officers at Holy Cross Medical Center, where Segura was being treated for his wounds.
According to the criminal complaint, Ortega admitted that she and Segura were in a “verbal altercation” when it became physical and Segura apparently tried to put out a cigarette on her eye when she said she stabbed Segura “possibly with the key of her car.”
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Seguar “died as a result of injury sustained during this incident,” said Taos Police Chief John Wentz.
Wentz added that because the event occurred in a residence with children present, two counts of child abuse were added to the voluntary manslaughter charge.
Though charges were filed in Magistrate Court, the case was quickly picked up by the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s office. The state filed a motion for pretrial detention, and she is currently being held at the Taos County Adult Detention Center.
In July of last year, Ortega was charged with one count of aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon and two counts of child abuse for a similar situation involving Segura and her children. Ortega entered the Pre-Prosecution Diversion (PPD) Program to avoid a conviction. The DA’s office said this plays into their motion for pretrial detention.
“Violent crimes – especially when committed in front of children – certainly warrant scrutiny,” said Eighth Judicial District Attorney Marcus Montoya in a statement. “Unfortunately in this case the victim’s life was lost. This defendant’s unpredictability and violent tendencies are a couple reasons why this District Attorney’s office will argue for pretrial detention and that there are no conditions of release that will adequately protect the community.”