One Year Later: Looking back at the impact of the Laredo serial killings

Webb County District Attorney Chilo Alaniz and Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar along with other law enforcement representatives walk away from the scene where a fourth body was found on Sept. 15, 2018. Officials say she was the victim of a serial killer and have charged Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz with four counts of murder. less Webb County District Attorney Chilo Alaniz and Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar along with other law enforcement representatives walk away from the scene where a fourth body was found on Sept. 15, 2018. ... more Photo: Danny Zaragoza /Laredo Morning Times Photo: Danny Zaragoza /Laredo Morning Times Image 1 of / 98 Caption Close One Year Later: Looking back at the impact of the Laredo serial killings 1 / 98 Back to Gallery

Editors Note: One year later, the Laredo Morning Times is taking a look at the fallout from the serial killings that shook the Gateway City to its core last September. LMT reporters talked to the families affected the most after the series of murders and a resulting investigation ended with the arrest of Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz. One year later, the aftershock from the crimes can still be felt in Laredo.

Rose Ortiz remembers her sister's fiery attitude and protective nature a year after she was one of four people murdered by an alleged serial killer in Laredo.

READ MORE: Laredo Border Patrol agent indicted on capital murder charge, DA to seek death penalty

Rose and Janelle Ortiz would hang out with friends at their father's place and tease each other with names or talk about fashion. When her father sternly talked to Rose about pulling up her grades in high school, Janelle also firmly put her foot down.

"I started my high school freshman year, and (she) would tell me to get on the ball," said Rose, 20. "I would skip school, and (she) was after me. (She) never stopped looking out for me."

Nearly a year after Janelle was found murdered, Rose said she carries around her memory everywhere.

"I do dream about (Janelle)," she said, sitting next to a large frame of pictures with them laughing and smiling. "So far I've been recovering, little by little."

Sunday marks a year since Laredo Police found Janelle, the fourth woman murdered in a series of slayings which prompted the arrest of a Border Patrol agent and shook the Gateway City.

Juan David Ortiz, 36, was arrested Sept. 15, 2018 and confessed to killing four women: Melissa Ramirez, Claudine Anne Luera, Guiselda Alicia Hernandez and Janelle Ortiz. He also confessed to assaulting another victim, Erika Peña.

Hernandez, 34, was a mother of four; Luera, 42, had three sisters and was a mother of five; Ortiz, 28, was a transgender woman and had one sister; Ramirez, 29, was a mother of two.

Ortiz is accused of slaying Ramirez on Sept. 3, Luera on Sept. 13, and Hernandez and Janelle Ortiz around Sept. 15.

Authorities said the four women killed were sex workers. They did not know about Janelle Ortiz (no relation to the suspect) until he confessed and revealed a fourth victim.

Webb County District Attorney Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz is prosecuting the case. At a press conference last December, Alaniz said Juan David Ortiz wanted to "clean up the streets of Laredo" by targeting these individuals he perceived as "disposable" that no one would miss or value.

Ortiz is currently held on a $2.5 million bond and is seeking a bond reduction.

Troopers Francisco Hernandez, John Henry Bradshaw and Abiel Obregon were honored by the Texas Department of Public Safety in connection with their efforts in the case.

While patrolling in Laredo, Hernandez noticed Peña, who earlier escaped from the suspect's vehicle and ran in Hernandez's direction as he was refueling his patrol car.

Seeing she was in need of immediate help, he alerted authorities, according to the recognition on the DPS website.

The suspect allegedly killed the final two victims later that evening.

After gathering the information needed to help identify the suspect, a "be on the lookout," or BOLO, was sent out by the police. Bradshaw later located the suspect's vehicle at a gas station and called for help.

Obregon arrived on scene, then the two asked the suspect if the vehicle was his, to which he responded, 'yes.' Officers pointed their rifles at the suspect, who then fled on foot. He was later found inside the bed of a pickup truck in the parking garage he was last seen in and was eventually arrested.

READ MORE: County authorities shoot down false report about suspected serial killer

For the victims' families and friends, the year after has brought up new emotions as the trial for Ortiz is ongoing and will likely head into 2020 and beyond. Those who knew the victims have coped with their new lives and in their hearts remember the victims as protective and caring people.