1 00:00:07,807 --> 00:00:08,941 - I'm craig melvin, 2 00:00:09,143 --> 00:00:12,077 And this is dateline: Secrets uncovered. 3 00:00:12,146 --> 00:00:14,713 - She said, "I need to say something. 4 00:00:14,915 --> 00:00:17,516 "I'm not gonna be here for long. 5 00:00:17,518 --> 00:00:18,751 "someone's gonna kill me." 6 00:00:18,953 --> 00:00:20,986 ♪ 7 00:00:21,188 --> 00:00:23,721 - The sheriff department and texas rangers 8 00:00:23,791 --> 00:00:25,524 Are investigating a murder. 9 00:00:25,559 --> 00:00:27,192 - Who'd want melissa dead? 10 00:00:27,194 --> 00:00:28,293 - I have no idea. 11 00:00:28,495 --> 00:00:30,362 - The sheriff had a bad feeling about this case. 12 00:00:30,564 --> 00:00:32,330 ♪ 13 00:00:32,332 --> 00:00:34,633 - The second victim is from laredo. 14 00:00:34,635 --> 00:00:35,900 Comes from a very good family. 15 00:00:35,936 --> 00:00:38,037 - I think my whole block heard me scream. 16 00:00:38,239 --> 00:00:39,704 - It did not feel like a coincidence. 17 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:42,707 - The killer is looking for his next victim. 18 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:44,443 She does something amazing. 19 00:00:44,645 --> 00:00:46,578 She's able to slip out of her blouse. 20 00:00:50,751 --> 00:00:53,018 - She realizes, oh, my god... 21 00:00:53,220 --> 00:00:54,352 He killed melissa. 22 00:00:54,555 --> 00:00:55,654 He killed claudine. 23 00:00:57,157 --> 00:00:58,723 And I'm sitting in his house. 24 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:07,399 ♪ 25 00:01:07,601 --> 00:01:11,136 - Hello, and welcome to dateline: Secrets uncovered. 26 00:01:11,338 --> 00:01:13,538 Melissa ramirez and claudine luera 27 00:01:13,740 --> 00:01:14,739 Had a lot in common. 28 00:01:14,941 --> 00:01:15,807 They were friends, 29 00:01:15,810 --> 00:01:18,276 Both mothers from loving families, 30 00:01:18,478 --> 00:01:21,213 And both held dark secrets. 31 00:01:21,415 --> 00:01:24,282 Also, melissa and claudine 32 00:01:24,484 --> 00:01:26,951 Were found murdered days apart. 33 00:01:27,153 --> 00:01:30,288 Theirs were the first two in a string of homicides 34 00:01:30,490 --> 00:01:34,226 Sending police in search of a serial killer. 35 00:01:34,228 --> 00:01:37,729 Here's josh mankiewicz with "the streets of laredo." 36 00:01:37,932 --> 00:01:44,169 ♪ 37 00:01:44,171 --> 00:01:46,572 - These are the streets of laredo, texas. 38 00:01:48,575 --> 00:01:51,175 And these are also the streets of laredo. 39 00:01:51,178 --> 00:01:53,878 They're named after famous mystery writers, 40 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,914 Men and women who created frightening, 41 00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:59,117 Intriguing stories full of twists, 42 00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:01,420 Stories that often deal with the wealthy, 43 00:02:01,422 --> 00:02:03,855 The powerful, the privileged, 44 00:02:03,857 --> 00:02:06,024 And the damage they can do. 45 00:02:06,227 --> 00:02:09,894 We cover a lot of that on dateline, too. 46 00:02:09,897 --> 00:02:12,131 This story is different. 47 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:14,999 It's a visit to the underbelly, 48 00:02:15,001 --> 00:02:16,835 A four block stretch of laredo 49 00:02:17,037 --> 00:02:19,537 Called san bernardo avenue. 50 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:21,806 It is the wrong side of the tracks, 51 00:02:21,808 --> 00:02:24,309 Known for prostitution, drug deals, 52 00:02:24,511 --> 00:02:27,145 And everything that comes with that. 53 00:02:27,147 --> 00:02:29,381 In the late summer of 2018, 54 00:02:29,583 --> 00:02:32,284 These blocks were even more dangerous. 55 00:02:32,486 --> 00:02:34,753 That's when someone was hunting the women 56 00:02:34,755 --> 00:02:36,989 Of san bernardo like prey. 57 00:02:38,559 --> 00:02:39,891 On these sidewalks, 58 00:02:39,894 --> 00:02:43,127 You find people who rarely have their stories told. 59 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:49,267 ♪ 60 00:02:49,269 --> 00:02:51,103 It began on September 3rd, 61 00:02:51,105 --> 00:02:53,972 When a woman's body was found on a secluded road 62 00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:57,408 25 miles from downtown. 63 00:02:57,410 --> 00:03:00,378 Now, despite its frontier reputation, 64 00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:02,414 The border town of laredo 65 00:03:02,416 --> 00:03:03,782 Is consistently ranked 66 00:03:03,984 --> 00:03:06,385 Among the safest cities in the country. 67 00:03:07,754 --> 00:03:11,856 Isidro alaniz is webb county district attorney. 68 00:03:11,858 --> 00:03:13,825 Usually when a body turns up, it's not a murder. 69 00:03:13,827 --> 00:03:15,927 It's somebody who was crossing the border 70 00:03:15,930 --> 00:03:17,195 Who died from the heat. 71 00:03:17,197 --> 00:03:19,698 - That's exactly true. - This wasn't that. 72 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:21,667 - No, not at all. Not at all. 73 00:03:22,937 --> 00:03:24,402 - Webb county sheriff's captain, 74 00:03:24,604 --> 00:03:27,806 Federico calderon, was called to the scene. 75 00:03:28,008 --> 00:03:30,942 A young woman shot in the head. 76 00:03:30,945 --> 00:03:31,943 - From a distance, it looked like 77 00:03:31,946 --> 00:03:33,011 She might have been dumped there, 78 00:03:33,013 --> 00:03:34,979 But, you know, upon closer inspection, 79 00:03:34,982 --> 00:03:38,217 It looked like she had been executed at that spot. 80 00:03:38,419 --> 00:03:40,552 There were shell casings. 81 00:03:40,554 --> 00:03:43,321 - The ammo came from a .40 caliber handgun, 82 00:03:43,323 --> 00:03:45,256 And the brand federal, 83 00:03:45,458 --> 00:03:47,025 A leading ammunition supplier 84 00:03:47,027 --> 00:03:49,628 That also sells to a lot of law enforcement agencies. 85 00:03:50,931 --> 00:03:54,465 The medical examiner made the I.D. Of her prints. 86 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:58,336 The victim was 29-year-old melissa ramirez. 87 00:03:58,371 --> 00:03:59,371 - She has kids. 88 00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:02,941 She has a family that lived in rio bravo, 89 00:04:03,143 --> 00:04:06,578 Um, which is a municipality just south of laredo. 90 00:04:06,580 --> 00:04:09,247 - Law enforcement knew melissa as a drug user 91 00:04:09,449 --> 00:04:10,949 And sex worker. 92 00:04:10,951 --> 00:04:15,253 To her family, she was something else entirely. 93 00:04:15,455 --> 00:04:16,888 - Every time we would hang out with each other, 94 00:04:16,890 --> 00:04:18,222 We would just laugh. 95 00:04:18,259 --> 00:04:20,859 It was very fun to be around with her. 96 00:04:20,861 --> 00:04:24,462 - Gracie ramirez was melissa's sister-in-law. 97 00:04:24,464 --> 00:04:25,597 - We were like sisters. 98 00:04:25,599 --> 00:04:29,033 We were super close to each other. 99 00:04:29,036 --> 00:04:31,703 - Melissa's mom likes to remember her daughter, 100 00:04:31,705 --> 00:04:33,005 As she was. 101 00:04:35,041 --> 00:04:36,541 - She got good grades. 102 00:04:36,743 --> 00:04:38,276 I never struggled with her. 103 00:04:38,478 --> 00:04:41,112 I never had problems with her. 104 00:04:41,314 --> 00:04:43,915 - That was before her early teens, 105 00:04:44,118 --> 00:04:47,919 Before a bipolar diagnosis that went untreated. 106 00:04:48,121 --> 00:04:51,155 Gracie says melissa never let on to her family 107 00:04:51,357 --> 00:04:55,427 That she'd turned to drugs and then sex work. 108 00:04:55,429 --> 00:04:57,796 She really kept her life split in two, didn't she? 109 00:04:57,998 --> 00:05:00,499 - She was very private to her life. 110 00:05:00,534 --> 00:05:04,169 - Still, when melissa would leave for days at a time, 111 00:05:04,171 --> 00:05:08,040 Her family knew it couldn't be for anything good. 112 00:05:08,242 --> 00:05:09,941 - So she would come visit me. 113 00:05:09,943 --> 00:05:12,410 I would beg her to stay with me. 114 00:05:12,445 --> 00:05:13,445 I would feed her. 115 00:05:13,447 --> 00:05:16,114 I would give her everything she needed. 116 00:05:16,116 --> 00:05:19,083 But she just insisted that she needed to head out. 117 00:05:19,086 --> 00:05:20,218 - But she wouldn't say where. 118 00:05:20,421 --> 00:05:22,086 - No, she would never tell me where. 119 00:05:22,088 --> 00:05:24,188 Nor her- her brother. 120 00:05:24,190 --> 00:05:25,523 She wouldn't tell anybody. 121 00:05:25,725 --> 00:05:29,527 - Now, melissa had met a brutal end. 122 00:05:29,529 --> 00:05:33,365 - A female was found deceased... 123 00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:34,599 - When it comes to news 124 00:05:34,801 --> 00:05:37,902 About the under-served and under-covered, 125 00:05:37,904 --> 00:05:41,340 People in laredo usually turn to priscilla villarreal. 126 00:05:42,609 --> 00:05:44,609 - We're live, fyi. Just so you-- 127 00:05:44,611 --> 00:05:46,744 - Oh, we're live. - Yeah, wanna say hi? 128 00:05:46,747 --> 00:05:48,847 - Hi, everybody. 129 00:05:48,849 --> 00:05:51,750 To her more than 200,000 followers, 130 00:05:51,952 --> 00:05:55,854 Priscilla is known as la gordiloca. 131 00:05:55,856 --> 00:05:58,890 La gordiloca, the big, crazy woman. 132 00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:00,492 - Thank you. - Uh-- 133 00:06:00,494 --> 00:06:02,394 - Everybody says the fat, crazy, and I'm like-- 134 00:06:04,197 --> 00:06:06,431 - She deals mostly in crime, 135 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,933 But unlike traditional news outlets, 136 00:06:08,935 --> 00:06:10,502 Her reporting is done off-the-cuff 137 00:06:10,704 --> 00:06:14,706 Via facebook livestreams, as events are unfolding. 138 00:06:17,343 --> 00:06:20,278 And so, if something's going down in laredo, 139 00:06:20,481 --> 00:06:23,115 La gordiloca usually knows about it. 140 00:06:23,317 --> 00:06:25,317 - They call me and say, "hey, there's a chase here 141 00:06:25,519 --> 00:06:27,585 "by, you know, central laredo." 142 00:06:27,587 --> 00:06:30,288 - You can get to it. - I am up and going. 143 00:06:30,491 --> 00:06:32,190 - That rawness and immediacy 144 00:06:32,258 --> 00:06:36,361 Seems to keep laredo clicking on her. 145 00:06:36,363 --> 00:06:39,864 Now, la gordiloca was asking the same questions 146 00:06:40,066 --> 00:06:41,799 As melissa's family. 147 00:06:41,835 --> 00:06:43,668 Who would want melissa dead? 148 00:06:43,870 --> 00:06:47,506 - I-I... I have no idea. 149 00:06:47,708 --> 00:06:51,042 - She didn't, but maybe melissa did. 150 00:06:51,111 --> 00:06:54,512 Investigators heard that about three weeks before her murder, 151 00:06:54,714 --> 00:06:58,082 Melissa had some kind of premonition. 152 00:06:58,284 --> 00:06:59,584 - We were at the kitchen table. 153 00:06:59,586 --> 00:07:02,621 She, uh, said, "I need to say something." 154 00:07:02,689 --> 00:07:05,056 We just stop what we're doing. 155 00:07:05,058 --> 00:07:06,724 And she said, 156 00:07:06,726 --> 00:07:09,361 "I'm not gonna be here for long. 157 00:07:09,363 --> 00:07:10,895 "someone's gonna kill me." 158 00:07:10,931 --> 00:07:12,597 - She didn't tell you who that was? 159 00:07:12,799 --> 00:07:14,032 - She never said who it was. 160 00:07:14,234 --> 00:07:15,233 She just said, 161 00:07:15,235 --> 00:07:17,836 Someone's gonna point me with a gun, like this. 162 00:07:18,038 --> 00:07:19,371 - She said somebody was going to shoot her in the head? 163 00:07:19,573 --> 00:07:20,238 - Yes. 164 00:07:21,341 --> 00:07:25,343 - And prosecutor alaniz, who was on this from the start, 165 00:07:25,345 --> 00:07:27,479 Says forensics back up the story 166 00:07:27,481 --> 00:07:30,248 Melissa so chillingly foretold. 167 00:07:30,450 --> 00:07:32,684 - She did have a gunshot wound to-- 168 00:07:32,686 --> 00:07:35,387 Around her wrist area, one by her jaw, 169 00:07:35,389 --> 00:07:37,189 And one to her- her head. 170 00:07:37,391 --> 00:07:39,558 - It feels like she's putting her hand up 171 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:40,892 As-- - that's exactly right. 172 00:07:40,894 --> 00:07:42,426 That's exactly right. 173 00:07:42,463 --> 00:07:44,896 - Melissa's premonition came true. 174 00:07:45,098 --> 00:07:47,966 Soon, police had more than just a sense 175 00:07:47,968 --> 00:07:50,402 That they were headed in the right direction. 176 00:07:50,404 --> 00:07:53,738 - And at this moment, police and other agencies 177 00:07:53,740 --> 00:07:57,876 Are surrounding a home in las cuestas subdivision. 178 00:07:58,078 --> 00:08:00,212 ♪ 179 00:08:06,485 --> 00:08:11,255 ♪ 180 00:08:11,257 --> 00:08:13,157 - Investigators in laredo, texas, 181 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:16,194 Were working the murder of melissa ramirez, 182 00:08:16,396 --> 00:08:20,198 Found dead on the side of a desolate road. 183 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,333 The murders of sex workers 184 00:08:21,535 --> 00:08:23,902 Can be problematic for investigators. 185 00:08:24,104 --> 00:08:26,104 Victims often don't keep regular hours, 186 00:08:26,106 --> 00:08:28,773 Making their movements difficult to track. 187 00:08:28,775 --> 00:08:31,109 They may not know their customers real names, 188 00:08:31,111 --> 00:08:33,245 And often, their families and friends 189 00:08:33,447 --> 00:08:35,379 Don't want to speak with police. 190 00:08:35,581 --> 00:08:36,514 Over the years, 191 00:08:36,716 --> 00:08:39,050 A number of law enforcement agencies faced criticism 192 00:08:39,252 --> 00:08:40,584 That they just didn't work hard enough 193 00:08:40,587 --> 00:08:43,187 To solve the murders of sex workers. 194 00:08:43,189 --> 00:08:46,524 And if the laredo killer was counting on that, 195 00:08:46,526 --> 00:08:47,992 Then he made a mistake 196 00:08:48,194 --> 00:08:51,997 Because investigators pursued this case aggressively. 197 00:08:52,199 --> 00:08:54,065 Sheriff's captain federico calderon 198 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:55,800 Knew he'd need help, 199 00:08:55,802 --> 00:08:57,869 So he called in the texas rangers, 200 00:08:57,937 --> 00:08:59,370 The department of public safety 201 00:08:59,572 --> 00:09:02,273 And the u.S. Border patrol. 202 00:09:02,276 --> 00:09:05,810 And early on, came a lead, a big one. 203 00:09:06,012 --> 00:09:07,946 The residents who had discovered melissa's body 204 00:09:08,148 --> 00:09:11,982 Told of a dark colored pickup truck parked nearby. 205 00:09:11,985 --> 00:09:14,652 As they approached the truck to see who was inside, 206 00:09:14,687 --> 00:09:16,288 It sped off. 207 00:09:16,490 --> 00:09:19,123 And when they saw the truck leave, 208 00:09:19,325 --> 00:09:21,159 Uh, they noticed that there was a body 209 00:09:21,361 --> 00:09:22,594 Next to where the truck was parked. 210 00:09:23,963 --> 00:09:25,163 - One of the group was close enough 211 00:09:25,365 --> 00:09:27,832 To jot down a plate number. 212 00:09:28,034 --> 00:09:29,501 A computer search later, 213 00:09:29,703 --> 00:09:31,569 Investigators were able to track down 214 00:09:31,571 --> 00:09:34,172 The truck's owner that same evening. 215 00:09:34,174 --> 00:09:38,209 And it wasn't at all who they were expecting. 216 00:09:38,411 --> 00:09:41,112 And that person of interest is one of yours. 217 00:09:41,114 --> 00:09:42,046 - That's right. 218 00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:44,082 - At this time, the sheriff department 219 00:09:44,284 --> 00:09:48,553 And texas rangers are investigating a murder. 220 00:09:48,622 --> 00:09:50,488 - Investigators in laredo, texas, 221 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:54,792 Were not talking publicly about melissa ramirez's killing. 222 00:09:54,994 --> 00:09:58,997 La gordiloca wasn't talking about anything else. 223 00:09:59,199 --> 00:10:03,868 - And at this moment, um, the police and other agencies 224 00:10:03,870 --> 00:10:08,039 Are surrounding a home in las cuestas subdivision. 225 00:10:09,008 --> 00:10:10,474 - She was live on facebook 226 00:10:10,676 --> 00:10:13,144 As laredo pd staked out the house of a man 227 00:10:13,346 --> 00:10:16,614 Whose truck had been seen next to melissa's body. 228 00:10:16,816 --> 00:10:20,017 It had to have been a little surreal for those officers 229 00:10:20,020 --> 00:10:23,855 Because the truck's owner, 32-year-old rene arce, 230 00:10:23,857 --> 00:10:27,658 Was himself, a laredo police officer. 231 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:30,128 Even so, as soon as he stepped out his front door, 232 00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:32,096 He was cuffed 233 00:10:32,098 --> 00:10:34,632 And brought in for questioning. 234 00:10:34,634 --> 00:10:38,636 - A male police officer is either detained, 235 00:10:38,838 --> 00:10:40,972 Or has not been detained yet, 236 00:10:41,174 --> 00:10:44,041 But it's being said he is responsible 237 00:10:44,044 --> 00:10:46,778 For the murder of this female. 238 00:10:46,780 --> 00:10:49,313 - Law enforcement didn't know if that last part 239 00:10:49,315 --> 00:10:50,582 Was actually true. 240 00:10:50,784 --> 00:10:53,385 It's one of the things they asked officer arce about. 241 00:11:06,733 --> 00:11:09,133 - Arce said he was in the area that day, 242 00:11:09,135 --> 00:11:12,102 But had nothing to do with any murder. 243 00:11:12,105 --> 00:11:14,406 He was just checking out real estate. 244 00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:20,111 - Investigators kept at him. 245 00:11:29,455 --> 00:11:33,224 So not the caliber of weapon that killed melissa. 246 00:11:33,259 --> 00:11:37,062 Of course, plenty of officers own more than one gun. 247 00:11:38,498 --> 00:11:41,966 It can't be lost on you that the laredo police officer 248 00:11:41,968 --> 00:11:45,169 Will have access to .40 caliber federal ammunition. 249 00:11:45,371 --> 00:11:46,438 - That's a reasonable conclusion. 250 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:50,908 - Arce insisted it wasn't him. 251 00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:53,545 You go through his house and his truck? 252 00:11:53,547 --> 00:11:55,246 - Yes. - Anything? 253 00:11:55,248 --> 00:11:58,316 - Weapons were recovered from his house? 254 00:11:58,518 --> 00:12:02,386 - Yes. Except none matched the murder weapon, 255 00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:04,722 Or the ammo. 256 00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:07,725 Still, it was strange. 257 00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:09,093 He's parked right next to a body 258 00:12:09,295 --> 00:12:10,494 And he doesn't see it. 259 00:12:10,696 --> 00:12:12,130 - That's what he said. 260 00:12:12,332 --> 00:12:16,200 - And with no probable cause, they let him go. 261 00:12:16,402 --> 00:12:19,871 Soon investigators were following a new lead. 262 00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:22,806 Melissa's mom mentioned a suspicious man 263 00:12:22,809 --> 00:12:24,676 Who'd been with her daughter the week before. 264 00:12:26,246 --> 00:12:29,881 - She came with a man. I didn't know him. 265 00:12:29,916 --> 00:12:31,415 - She was unnerved enough 266 00:12:31,417 --> 00:12:34,018 That she told gracie about the encounter. 267 00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:35,753 - She told me that he never said anything at all. 268 00:12:35,755 --> 00:12:37,021 He was just there, sitting down. 269 00:12:37,223 --> 00:12:39,957 Just looking at melissa while she was getting ready. 270 00:12:39,959 --> 00:12:45,497 And she said that he had this weird look on his eyes 271 00:12:45,699 --> 00:12:47,031 Whenever he would see melissa. 272 00:12:47,033 --> 00:12:49,300 Like, like an evil look. 273 00:12:49,502 --> 00:12:52,103 And then after that, she never saw her again. 274 00:12:52,305 --> 00:12:53,671 - That, to me, sounds like somebody 275 00:12:53,673 --> 00:12:55,840 Who at least is a sort of potential suspect. 276 00:12:56,042 --> 00:12:58,309 - Oh, absolutely. He was on our list. 277 00:12:58,511 --> 00:13:00,512 - Investigators tracked him down, 278 00:13:00,714 --> 00:13:02,914 And it turned out the man was a john, 279 00:13:02,916 --> 00:13:05,116 A customer of melissa's. 280 00:13:05,318 --> 00:13:07,519 - It happens to be that while... 281 00:13:07,721 --> 00:13:10,154 The time frame of the murder occurred, 282 00:13:10,356 --> 00:13:12,490 He was in another location on the road. 283 00:13:12,692 --> 00:13:14,058 He was driving a truck somewhere. 284 00:13:14,260 --> 00:13:16,127 - Now, you've looked at two specific guys. 285 00:13:16,129 --> 00:13:19,397 The police officer who parked almost right on top 286 00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:20,932 Of melissa's body, 287 00:13:21,134 --> 00:13:24,268 And the guy who'd been a customer of hers. 288 00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:26,670 You don't get a good hit off either one of those guys. 289 00:13:26,672 --> 00:13:28,472 - We're nowhere closer than we were 290 00:13:28,474 --> 00:13:30,874 The day of the actual murder. 291 00:13:30,877 --> 00:13:35,780 And we resorted to, uh, what cops do best. 292 00:13:35,782 --> 00:13:38,683 And that's being nosy and talking to people. 293 00:13:38,685 --> 00:13:42,754 - That meant scouring the corners of san bernardo. 294 00:13:42,756 --> 00:13:44,722 One of the names you hear 295 00:13:44,724 --> 00:13:48,359 When you're building a profile of who melissa was, 296 00:13:48,561 --> 00:13:50,361 Is claudine luera. 297 00:13:50,363 --> 00:13:52,196 - Correct. They worked in the same area. 298 00:13:52,198 --> 00:13:55,232 They-they were acquainted. They knew each other. 299 00:13:55,268 --> 00:13:57,735 - Both prostitutes, both on drugs. 300 00:13:57,737 --> 00:13:58,736 - Correct. 301 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:02,906 - Investigators thought claudine might know who it was 302 00:14:02,909 --> 00:14:04,843 That melissa so feared. 303 00:14:05,045 --> 00:14:07,745 Except she was nowhere to be found. 304 00:14:07,747 --> 00:14:10,448 They put out the word among other law enforcement agencies, 305 00:14:10,650 --> 00:14:13,050 But claudine didn't turn up. 306 00:14:13,252 --> 00:14:15,052 Possible that she heard you guys were looking for her 307 00:14:15,254 --> 00:14:16,588 And was keepin' her head down. 308 00:14:16,790 --> 00:14:19,056 - That is a possibility for sure. 309 00:14:19,258 --> 00:14:21,258 - Ten days after melissa's murder, 310 00:14:21,261 --> 00:14:24,061 They finally found claudine luera. 311 00:14:24,263 --> 00:14:25,929 She wasn't talking. 312 00:14:25,932 --> 00:14:27,898 - She's been shot. - She's been shot. 313 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:29,567 - It was about two miles 314 00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:31,869 From where melissa's body was found. 315 00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:33,905 Also by the side of the road. 316 00:14:33,907 --> 00:14:38,542 Nearby, the same .40 caliber federal ammunition. 317 00:14:38,744 --> 00:14:40,812 Claudine was taken to a hospital. 318 00:14:40,814 --> 00:14:42,546 She did not survive. 319 00:14:42,548 --> 00:14:44,215 - It's starting to smell like it's the same guy. 320 00:14:44,417 --> 00:14:46,350 And we have a strong inclination 321 00:14:46,552 --> 00:14:48,219 After processing that crime scene, 322 00:14:48,421 --> 00:14:50,822 That we're probably dealing with the same person. 323 00:14:51,024 --> 00:14:52,756 - Someone's killing prostitutes. 324 00:14:52,758 --> 00:14:55,025 - Someone's killing prostitutes with a .40 caliber handgun. 325 00:14:55,094 --> 00:14:57,428 ♪ 326 00:15:03,836 --> 00:15:09,507 ♪ 327 00:15:09,509 --> 00:15:13,110 - It was a hot end to the summer of 2018, 328 00:15:13,112 --> 00:15:15,213 And laredo was simmering. 329 00:15:15,215 --> 00:15:16,347 Within ten days, 330 00:15:16,549 --> 00:15:19,383 Two women had been found executed, 331 00:15:19,585 --> 00:15:23,154 And investigators thought it was the work of one killer. 332 00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:26,190 They'd focused on two potential suspects. 333 00:15:26,259 --> 00:15:28,092 Neither panned out. 334 00:15:28,127 --> 00:15:30,528 - People were worried. People were scared. 335 00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:32,263 Now this was real 336 00:15:32,465 --> 00:15:34,032 And you could feel the-the tension. 337 00:15:34,234 --> 00:15:37,335 - I would just order everything to get it delivered 338 00:15:37,537 --> 00:15:38,769 Rather than going to the store. 339 00:15:38,971 --> 00:15:39,771 We were all scared. 340 00:15:39,973 --> 00:15:41,539 We were like, what is going on? 341 00:15:42,676 --> 00:15:45,743 - Law enforcement had been looking for claudine luera. 342 00:15:45,745 --> 00:15:47,811 Now she was gone, too. 343 00:15:48,013 --> 00:15:50,214 - It wasn't until Thursday 344 00:15:50,216 --> 00:15:52,983 That I heard of another female being found. 345 00:15:53,052 --> 00:15:54,318 - The victim was found... 346 00:15:54,321 --> 00:15:57,087 - Claudine's sister colette, heard about the second murder 347 00:15:57,156 --> 00:15:59,389 From kgns news. 348 00:15:59,392 --> 00:16:01,392 - She was alive when deputies arrived, 349 00:16:01,394 --> 00:16:03,160 But later died at the hospital. 350 00:16:03,362 --> 00:16:05,929 - And, I kept thinking, "man, poor lady. 351 00:16:06,132 --> 00:16:08,031 "she must have suffered a lot." 352 00:16:08,034 --> 00:16:09,200 I go, "poor family." 353 00:16:10,303 --> 00:16:12,904 - She had no way of knowing it was claudine. 354 00:16:13,106 --> 00:16:16,340 And when she found out, it hit her hard. 355 00:16:16,542 --> 00:16:18,977 - I think my whole block heard me scream. 356 00:16:19,179 --> 00:16:22,413 And just to think, you know, here I am, 357 00:16:22,615 --> 00:16:25,382 Feeling sorry for this person the day before, 358 00:16:25,385 --> 00:16:28,619 Saying, you know, how sad for the family. 359 00:16:28,621 --> 00:16:30,187 [sniffling] she must've suffered. 360 00:16:30,189 --> 00:16:34,424 And next thing you know, we're that family. 361 00:16:34,427 --> 00:16:38,596 - She rushed to tell claudine's daughter ciara at work, 362 00:16:38,631 --> 00:16:41,098 But didn't have to say a word. 363 00:16:41,134 --> 00:16:44,001 - I could just see the look on their face. 364 00:16:44,203 --> 00:16:46,771 [sobbing] and I knew my mom was gone. 365 00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:53,177 - It's no words that anybody should hear. 366 00:16:53,379 --> 00:16:55,947 Ciara just... She just stood there, 367 00:16:55,949 --> 00:17:00,217 And what words do you give a child? 368 00:17:00,219 --> 00:17:01,319 Their mother's gone. 369 00:17:02,722 --> 00:17:03,855 - Colette remembered 370 00:17:03,857 --> 00:17:07,658 How close she and claudine were growing up in laredo. 371 00:17:07,860 --> 00:17:11,029 - She would help me sneak in my frogs into the house. 372 00:17:11,231 --> 00:17:14,298 Um, I loved to dress them up in barbie clothes. 373 00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:16,167 - Actual frogs? - Yes. [laughing] 374 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:21,105 - Ciara knew her mother had suffered trauma 375 00:17:21,307 --> 00:17:23,141 Beginning in her youth. 376 00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:24,575 What happened to her growing up? 377 00:17:27,146 --> 00:17:29,913 That's a hard story for you to tell. 378 00:17:29,915 --> 00:17:31,715 - She was assaulted 379 00:17:31,917 --> 00:17:34,885 By somebody who lived behind her. 380 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:36,454 And, um, 381 00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:38,356 I don't think anything was ever done about it. 382 00:17:38,558 --> 00:17:39,791 She was how old? 383 00:17:39,993 --> 00:17:42,026 - I believe under the age of 14. 384 00:17:42,228 --> 00:17:43,494 - She was damaged by that? 385 00:17:43,696 --> 00:17:47,031 - Yeah. Very damaged. 386 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:49,266 - Ciara says her mom had always been there 387 00:17:49,468 --> 00:17:51,402 For her children, 388 00:17:51,404 --> 00:17:53,937 But then got together with an old boyfriend, 389 00:17:54,139 --> 00:17:57,675 Someone the family felt was bad news. 390 00:17:57,877 --> 00:18:00,077 She started using heroin. 391 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:02,013 - It was like, 15. 392 00:18:02,048 --> 00:18:04,381 And things, you know, she just changed. 393 00:18:04,416 --> 00:18:06,550 She would only wear, like, long sleeves. 394 00:18:06,752 --> 00:18:07,618 - So you knew something was wrong? 395 00:18:07,820 --> 00:18:10,421 - Yeah. It didn't make sense. 396 00:18:10,623 --> 00:18:11,689 - It wasn't long 397 00:18:11,691 --> 00:18:14,692 Before claudine lost custody of her children. 398 00:18:14,894 --> 00:18:16,160 I would be lying if I didn't say 399 00:18:16,362 --> 00:18:20,497 There weren't times that I asked her, you know, like, 400 00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:23,667 When is my love gonna be enough? 401 00:18:23,669 --> 00:18:25,235 - And what was her answer? 402 00:18:25,304 --> 00:18:26,870 [voice cracking] - it was. 403 00:18:26,873 --> 00:18:29,140 That it was enough, she was just... 404 00:18:29,175 --> 00:18:33,477 [sniffling] ...Heavily addicted to a drug 405 00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:36,413 And it took over, but my love was enough, 406 00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:39,116 And she always wanted me to know that. 407 00:18:39,118 --> 00:18:42,352 You know, to separate the drug from her 408 00:18:42,354 --> 00:18:46,023 And to understand, but I couldn't. 409 00:18:47,893 --> 00:18:48,892 - After that, 410 00:18:49,094 --> 00:18:52,463 Claudine turned to sex work to feed her habit. 411 00:18:52,665 --> 00:18:55,199 Her family never stopped loving her. 412 00:18:55,401 --> 00:18:56,300 Who did you think had killed her? 413 00:18:56,502 --> 00:18:58,268 - My thought was him. 414 00:18:58,470 --> 00:19:00,438 - The boyfriend? - The boyfriend. 415 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,274 Because who else? 416 00:19:03,476 --> 00:19:04,408 - Good question. 417 00:19:04,610 --> 00:19:08,479 Because the boyfriend had an airtight alibi. 418 00:19:08,681 --> 00:19:10,614 Investigators did find a person of interest 419 00:19:10,616 --> 00:19:13,284 After looking through claudine's phone. 420 00:19:13,286 --> 00:19:14,618 Shortly before her death, 421 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:16,420 She'd been communicating with a guy 422 00:19:16,622 --> 00:19:19,256 Who went by the nickname "chon". 423 00:19:19,458 --> 00:19:21,091 He had a sheet. - He did. 424 00:19:21,293 --> 00:19:23,761 You know, a little bit of everything. 425 00:19:23,963 --> 00:19:27,197 - They went to his address, parked by his house, 426 00:19:27,199 --> 00:19:28,566 And waited. 427 00:19:28,601 --> 00:19:30,101 He's not there. - He's not there. 428 00:19:30,303 --> 00:19:33,470 But as luck would have it, he shows up. 429 00:19:33,472 --> 00:19:35,306 And as soon as he sees 430 00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:37,108 That there's people waiting for him outside his house, 431 00:19:37,310 --> 00:19:39,110 He takes off at a high rate of speed, and-- 432 00:19:39,312 --> 00:19:41,912 - And you're in a pursuit. - They chase him, he gets away. 433 00:19:41,915 --> 00:19:43,981 All of a sudden, we feel like maybe-- 434 00:19:44,183 --> 00:19:45,649 Maybe we got our guy. 435 00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:48,251 - And then chon himself contacted police 436 00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:50,688 And came in for an interview. 437 00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,457 He said he was with claudine, 438 00:19:53,659 --> 00:19:55,793 But before she was murdered. 439 00:19:55,795 --> 00:19:58,662 - And he says that at some point 440 00:19:58,864 --> 00:20:02,366 In that late evening or night, he leaves, 441 00:20:02,568 --> 00:20:04,635 That, uh, she goes her way, he goes his way. 442 00:20:04,837 --> 00:20:06,570 That the last that they saw. 443 00:20:06,572 --> 00:20:08,639 - Which is exactly what the murderer would say. 444 00:20:08,641 --> 00:20:09,807 - That's what-- yeah, exactly. 445 00:20:10,009 --> 00:20:12,309 We definitely thought 446 00:20:12,511 --> 00:20:14,512 We were heading in the right direction. 447 00:20:16,882 --> 00:20:19,951 - They thought finally they were getting close. 448 00:20:20,153 --> 00:20:23,487 Then investigators got a call that would make them realize 449 00:20:23,489 --> 00:20:25,288 It wasn't chon, 450 00:20:25,291 --> 00:20:29,827 It wasn't officer arce, and it wasn't the trucker. 451 00:20:29,829 --> 00:20:31,963 And ranger salinas tells me, "hey, 452 00:20:32,165 --> 00:20:35,432 "one of our troopers ran into a female who-- 453 00:20:35,434 --> 00:20:37,501 "she's frantic. She's scared. 454 00:20:37,503 --> 00:20:40,837 "she says that somebody tried to kill her with a handgun." 455 00:20:40,873 --> 00:20:42,640 ♪ 456 00:20:42,842 --> 00:20:44,508 - Like the two other victims, 457 00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:47,578 This woman worked san bernardo. 458 00:20:47,780 --> 00:20:51,649 Except, this woman survived. 459 00:20:51,851 --> 00:20:55,586 Had she been face-to-face with the killer? 460 00:20:55,788 --> 00:20:57,888 ♪ 461 00:21:04,729 --> 00:21:07,765 ♪ 462 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,534 - Welcome back to dateline: Secrets uncovered. 463 00:21:10,736 --> 00:21:11,869 I'm craig melvin. 464 00:21:12,071 --> 00:21:13,937 Investigators believed melissa ramirez 465 00:21:14,139 --> 00:21:17,474 And claudine luera were murdered by the same man 466 00:21:17,676 --> 00:21:19,877 Using the same .40 caliber handgun, 467 00:21:20,079 --> 00:21:23,214 But his identity remained a secret. 468 00:21:23,216 --> 00:21:26,884 Now, detectives were about to get their first big break 469 00:21:27,086 --> 00:21:28,285 From someone 470 00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:30,754 Who had been face-to-face with the killer 471 00:21:30,756 --> 00:21:33,757 And lived to tell the tale. 472 00:21:33,759 --> 00:21:36,760 Back to josh mankiewicz with "the streets of laredo." 473 00:21:36,962 --> 00:21:39,396 ♪ 474 00:21:39,598 --> 00:21:42,232 - September 14th, 2018. 475 00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:45,102 Two nights after claudine luera's killing, 476 00:21:45,304 --> 00:21:47,137 A texas dps trooper 477 00:21:47,339 --> 00:21:49,072 Was pumping gas into his cruiser 478 00:21:49,074 --> 00:21:51,341 Just before 9 p.M., 479 00:21:51,410 --> 00:21:53,377 When a frantic woman hurried toward him. 480 00:21:54,747 --> 00:21:58,315 She wasn't wearing a blouse as she breathlessly told him 481 00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:01,319 She had just been attacked by the man she was with. 482 00:22:02,654 --> 00:22:05,523 That's when the trooper turned on his body cam audio. 483 00:22:10,062 --> 00:22:13,697 - The woman was 26-year-old erika peña. 484 00:22:13,899 --> 00:22:15,632 She told him she and the man had arrived 485 00:22:15,634 --> 00:22:18,535 At the gas station just a few minutes earlier. 486 00:22:18,537 --> 00:22:22,073 And then after they parked, he put a gun to her head. 487 00:22:30,883 --> 00:22:33,550 - Erika used her wits to escape. 488 00:22:33,752 --> 00:22:36,153 She said as the man grabbed her blouse, 489 00:22:36,355 --> 00:22:38,722 She threw the passenger door open, 490 00:22:38,724 --> 00:22:40,657 Slithered out of her top 491 00:22:40,860 --> 00:22:42,326 And ran to safety. 492 00:22:48,768 --> 00:22:52,602 - Erika admitted she worked on the streets of san bernardo, 493 00:22:52,604 --> 00:22:53,804 Where the man had picked her up 494 00:22:54,006 --> 00:22:55,639 Earlier that evening. 495 00:22:55,841 --> 00:22:58,175 She described him as a regular customer. 496 00:23:17,563 --> 00:23:20,197 - She told him something changed in the air 497 00:23:20,399 --> 00:23:21,665 When the subject of the murders 498 00:23:21,867 --> 00:23:24,468 Of melissa and claudine came up in conversation. 499 00:23:42,221 --> 00:23:43,687 - The guy pointed a gun... 500 00:23:43,889 --> 00:23:45,456 - At the mention of the murders, 501 00:23:45,658 --> 00:23:48,526 The trooper decided to contact investigators 502 00:23:48,728 --> 00:23:50,694 On the off chance it was connected. 503 00:23:58,904 --> 00:24:02,672 - They asked him to bring erica to the substation, 504 00:24:02,674 --> 00:24:06,143 Where captain calderon and the texas ranger were waiting. 505 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:11,515 With a texas rainstorm pounding on a galvanized roof, 506 00:24:11,517 --> 00:24:12,817 Erika laid it out. 507 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:22,525 - She said earlier that night, 508 00:24:22,528 --> 00:24:24,461 David had taken her to his house, 509 00:24:24,663 --> 00:24:27,130 Where she'd been a couple of times before. 510 00:24:27,132 --> 00:24:28,766 - She's able to describe the walkway, 511 00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:31,601 The driveway, the inside of the house. 512 00:24:31,670 --> 00:24:33,370 You know, the neighborhood it's in. 513 00:24:33,573 --> 00:24:36,673 - Erika repeated what she'd told the trooper. 514 00:24:36,709 --> 00:24:39,476 When the conversation turned to the murders, 515 00:24:39,478 --> 00:24:42,613 David's demeanor suddenly changed. 516 00:24:42,615 --> 00:24:44,548 He seemed nervous, agitated. 517 00:24:58,864 --> 00:25:01,832 - Erika began to suspect david was the killer. 518 00:25:02,034 --> 00:25:05,469 While inside his house, with no clear way out. 519 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,107 - She starts getting a bad feeling 520 00:25:10,142 --> 00:25:12,075 Like she is going to die. 521 00:25:12,277 --> 00:25:14,645 So she wants to leave. 522 00:25:14,847 --> 00:25:17,214 - She wanted out of that house. 523 00:25:17,216 --> 00:25:18,615 He talked her into going with him 524 00:25:18,817 --> 00:25:21,251 To that gas station to get some food. 525 00:25:21,254 --> 00:25:25,055 Luckily, the dps trooper happened to be there. 526 00:25:25,057 --> 00:25:26,423 - So maybe that's your guy. 527 00:25:26,626 --> 00:25:28,359 - It's looking like one of the best leads 528 00:25:28,561 --> 00:25:29,894 We've had up to now. 529 00:25:31,230 --> 00:25:33,531 - Erika remembered something else david had said. 530 00:25:39,572 --> 00:25:41,671 - After her interview with detectives, 531 00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:45,375 A slew of investigators bundled themselves and erika 532 00:25:45,577 --> 00:25:47,244 Into three cars, 533 00:25:47,446 --> 00:25:49,380 And told her to show them david's house. 534 00:25:51,050 --> 00:25:54,151 She directed them to a home in a nice neighborhood 535 00:25:54,153 --> 00:25:56,219 On the north side of laredo. 536 00:25:56,421 --> 00:26:00,090 - The house with a walkway, just how she described it. 537 00:26:00,292 --> 00:26:03,460 Uh, the entrance to the house, how she described it. 538 00:26:03,663 --> 00:26:07,030 - To investigators, it all seemed to line up. 539 00:26:07,032 --> 00:26:09,432 There was no white dodge in sight. 540 00:26:09,634 --> 00:26:11,402 They decided to wait. 541 00:26:13,005 --> 00:26:14,405 Who lives at that address? 542 00:26:14,407 --> 00:26:15,538 - We found out that 543 00:26:15,540 --> 00:26:19,843 It's, uh, owned by juan david ortiz and wife. 544 00:26:20,045 --> 00:26:21,278 It's what it says on the record. 545 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,013 - And who's juan david ortiz? 546 00:26:23,015 --> 00:26:25,982 - We think he's some sort of oil field worker or something. 547 00:26:25,985 --> 00:26:27,650 There are two vehicles registered 548 00:26:27,653 --> 00:26:29,186 To that particular house. 549 00:26:29,388 --> 00:26:33,323 One of them is a dodge 2500 white pickup truck, 550 00:26:33,326 --> 00:26:36,327 Which, uh, fits the bill for an oil field type truck. 551 00:26:38,163 --> 00:26:41,064 - That truck had disabled veteran plates, 552 00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:45,035 Suggesting david had served in the military. 553 00:26:45,237 --> 00:26:47,805 So far, everything erika had told them 554 00:26:47,873 --> 00:26:50,407 Was ringing true. 555 00:26:50,409 --> 00:26:51,808 Feels like you're getting close. 556 00:26:52,010 --> 00:26:54,844 - It feels like we're onto something, finally. 557 00:26:54,846 --> 00:26:58,014 - They put a bolo out for ortiz's truck. 558 00:26:58,017 --> 00:27:01,051 Then, another twist. 559 00:27:01,086 --> 00:27:03,453 - We get a call of another body that's found 560 00:27:03,655 --> 00:27:04,989 Off of ih35. 561 00:27:05,191 --> 00:27:06,456 - Hey, hey! 562 00:27:06,525 --> 00:27:09,927 - The killer of laredo wasn't done yet. 563 00:27:17,468 --> 00:27:23,173 ♪ 564 00:27:23,375 --> 00:27:25,042 - Law enforcement was on the lookout 565 00:27:25,044 --> 00:27:29,313 For a white dodge ram belonging to juan david ortiz, 566 00:27:29,515 --> 00:27:32,082 The man they desperately wanted to question 567 00:27:32,284 --> 00:27:34,684 About the murders of melissa ramirez 568 00:27:34,686 --> 00:27:37,221 And claudine luera. 569 00:27:37,223 --> 00:27:40,590 Soon, the truck was spotted near san bernardo, 570 00:27:40,592 --> 00:27:44,461 The moment captured on security video. 571 00:27:44,663 --> 00:27:46,263 - The troopers, they're driving by. 572 00:27:46,265 --> 00:27:48,232 They see the vehicle parked at a gas station. 573 00:27:51,270 --> 00:27:54,204 - When he emerged, they confronted him. 574 00:27:54,206 --> 00:27:55,005 - Stop right there. 575 00:27:55,207 --> 00:27:58,541 Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! 576 00:27:58,543 --> 00:28:00,144 Is this your truck? Is this your truck? 577 00:28:01,279 --> 00:28:03,480 - Okay, all right. Turn around. 578 00:28:03,682 --> 00:28:04,347 - He started telling the troopers, 579 00:28:04,549 --> 00:28:05,616 Hey, you're freaking me out. 580 00:28:07,152 --> 00:28:08,685 - Okay, okay, I'm gonna explain to you. 581 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,053 - And he runs from the troopers. 582 00:28:10,255 --> 00:28:11,755 - Okay, hey! Hey! Hey! 583 00:28:11,757 --> 00:28:13,957 Hey! Hey! Hey! 584 00:28:14,025 --> 00:28:16,526 - They chased ortiz for a few blocks. 585 00:28:16,728 --> 00:28:17,661 Then lost him. 586 00:28:22,368 --> 00:28:24,668 - He couldn't have gone far on foot. 587 00:28:24,670 --> 00:28:26,670 So the swat team was called in. 588 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,341 Officers suited up and set up a perimeter. 589 00:28:33,378 --> 00:28:36,613 Then proceeded to comb the entire city block. 590 00:28:42,687 --> 00:28:43,887 - There was no sign of him. 591 00:28:47,259 --> 00:28:51,295 It was a scene custom made for la gordiloca. 592 00:28:52,030 --> 00:28:54,597 She was live streaming this latest news 593 00:28:54,633 --> 00:28:57,500 To the community most affected by it. 594 00:28:57,502 --> 00:28:59,636 - Just really don't know what's going on yet, 595 00:28:59,839 --> 00:29:01,004 But it's very serious. 596 00:29:01,206 --> 00:29:02,505 They're all armed. 597 00:29:02,541 --> 00:29:05,041 They're all with their bulletproof vests. 598 00:29:05,043 --> 00:29:07,544 It's probably those recent deaths that just happened. 599 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:08,945 I can only speculate. 600 00:29:08,947 --> 00:29:11,348 Like I said, nothing's confirmed. 601 00:29:11,383 --> 00:29:13,350 - As the search was underway... 602 00:29:15,153 --> 00:29:17,554 - We get a call of another body that's found 603 00:29:17,556 --> 00:29:19,622 Off of ih35. 604 00:29:19,824 --> 00:29:21,157 The deputy makes it out to the body, 605 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,225 And he calls me and he says, 606 00:29:22,227 --> 00:29:24,327 Hey, I think y'all have another one. 607 00:29:24,329 --> 00:29:26,897 - It was the body of guiselda cantu. 608 00:29:26,899 --> 00:29:29,165 She was also a sex worker. 609 00:29:29,168 --> 00:29:32,503 Also shot to death on a webb county road. 610 00:29:32,705 --> 00:29:37,074 And near her, federal 40 caliber casings. 611 00:29:37,076 --> 00:29:40,443 And then came a phone call from the border patrol. 612 00:29:40,646 --> 00:29:41,912 It changed everything 613 00:29:42,114 --> 00:29:44,881 Investigators thought they understood 614 00:29:45,083 --> 00:29:47,817 About the man they'd been pursuing. 615 00:29:47,886 --> 00:29:49,186 - He's not an oil field worker. 616 00:29:49,188 --> 00:29:50,853 - Not an oil field worker. 617 00:29:50,856 --> 00:29:52,488 He's a border patrol agent. 618 00:29:52,490 --> 00:29:54,190 A supervisory border patrol agent. 619 00:29:54,193 --> 00:29:56,326 - That had to hit you like a ton of bricks. 620 00:29:56,328 --> 00:29:58,194 - We weren't expecting that. I can tell you that. 621 00:29:58,197 --> 00:29:59,696 We were not expecting that. 622 00:29:59,899 --> 00:30:02,465 - Other border patrol agents had connected the dots 623 00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:04,735 When ortiz posted some messages on facebook 624 00:30:04,937 --> 00:30:08,671 Just moments before while he was on the run, 625 00:30:08,673 --> 00:30:11,074 Telling his wife and kids he loved them, 626 00:30:11,076 --> 00:30:16,346 Along with "doc ortiz checks out. Farewell." 627 00:30:16,548 --> 00:30:19,082 Like he's expecting not to survive. 628 00:30:19,084 --> 00:30:22,252 - Like he's expecting not to survive, correct. 629 00:30:22,254 --> 00:30:25,189 - The search narrowed to a hotel parking garage. 630 00:30:29,294 --> 00:30:30,327 - Yeah. 631 00:30:32,398 --> 00:30:34,364 - So that's when we split into two sections, 632 00:30:34,566 --> 00:30:36,166 And we made our-- we're making our way up 633 00:30:36,368 --> 00:30:38,968 To the parking lot. 634 00:30:38,970 --> 00:30:41,504 - Investigator noel gonzales led the swat team 635 00:30:41,706 --> 00:30:44,074 Up that parking garage ramp 636 00:30:44,276 --> 00:30:47,110 With laredo pd, dps troopers, 637 00:30:47,312 --> 00:30:49,780 Calderon and salinas, 638 00:30:49,982 --> 00:30:53,116 All following close behind. 639 00:30:53,318 --> 00:30:56,319 As they made their way through the fourth and last floor, 640 00:30:56,521 --> 00:30:57,955 All that remained to be cleared 641 00:30:58,023 --> 00:31:01,591 Were a lone pickup truck and some cement pillars. 642 00:31:01,594 --> 00:31:02,492 - That was it. 643 00:31:02,694 --> 00:31:03,560 It was either the last four pillars 644 00:31:03,762 --> 00:31:05,229 Or that truck. 645 00:31:06,531 --> 00:31:08,932 - Gonzales and others at the top of the stack 646 00:31:09,134 --> 00:31:10,467 Covered the pillars. 647 00:31:10,669 --> 00:31:13,403 He directed the rest of the team toward the truck. 648 00:31:13,605 --> 00:31:16,006 [shouting] 649 00:31:16,008 --> 00:31:19,208 - Get down! Get down! 650 00:31:19,411 --> 00:31:22,813 - And there he was, hiding in that truck bed. 651 00:31:23,015 --> 00:31:24,981 Takes out his cell phone very quickly. 652 00:31:25,183 --> 00:31:26,282 - Correct. 653 00:31:26,285 --> 00:31:28,285 - You tell me, hoping that the swat team 654 00:31:28,487 --> 00:31:29,953 Will think it's a gun and kill him? 655 00:31:30,155 --> 00:31:32,589 - That was his-his hope, 656 00:31:32,591 --> 00:31:37,227 To get, uh, killed by-by law enforcement 657 00:31:37,229 --> 00:31:39,729 So that he didn't have to deal with what he had done. 658 00:31:39,798 --> 00:31:42,666 - If suicide by cop was the plan, 659 00:31:42,868 --> 00:31:44,734 These officers didn't fall for it. 660 00:31:44,936 --> 00:31:47,804 Instead, they placed him in cuffs. 661 00:31:48,007 --> 00:31:49,406 He doesn't put up a fight? 662 00:31:49,608 --> 00:31:50,573 - He doesn't. 663 00:31:50,609 --> 00:31:52,475 It would not have been a wise thing to do. 664 00:31:52,477 --> 00:31:53,443 But no, he didn't. 665 00:31:53,445 --> 00:31:55,311 - It was around 2:30 in the morning 666 00:31:55,314 --> 00:31:59,582 By the time they placed juan david ortiz under arrest. 667 00:31:59,584 --> 00:32:01,651 - They got the guy. It's confirmed. 668 00:32:01,853 --> 00:32:03,453 Um, suspect is in custody. 669 00:32:04,989 --> 00:32:08,525 - And then he was inside an interrogation room. 670 00:32:08,527 --> 00:32:10,827 What's his demeanor? 671 00:32:10,829 --> 00:32:13,163 Scared? Arrogant? - Um... 672 00:32:13,165 --> 00:32:14,831 - Ashamed? 673 00:32:15,034 --> 00:32:16,967 - I would say arrogant is the right word. 674 00:32:16,969 --> 00:32:19,135 Uh, you hit the nail on the head there. 675 00:32:19,337 --> 00:32:22,472 He's basically laughing 676 00:32:22,474 --> 00:32:24,441 That he was able to outrun the troopers. 677 00:32:34,886 --> 00:32:38,388 - Ortiz repeatedly denied knowing any of the victims. 678 00:32:51,036 --> 00:32:53,970 - Investigators recalled finding erika's bag 679 00:32:54,172 --> 00:32:55,539 In his truck. 680 00:33:01,980 --> 00:33:03,846 - Over more than eight hours, 681 00:33:03,848 --> 00:33:05,315 They took his clothes, 682 00:33:05,517 --> 00:33:09,286 Had a man with a badge change into prisoner orange, 683 00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:11,355 And they pressed him. 684 00:33:27,806 --> 00:33:31,207 - D.A. Alaniz was watching on video. 685 00:33:31,209 --> 00:33:34,777 - I'll never forget, the time was 11:24 in the morning. 686 00:33:34,813 --> 00:33:36,879 He looks at captain calderon, 687 00:33:37,081 --> 00:33:39,349 And he says, can you take 'em off? 688 00:33:46,658 --> 00:33:48,491 - He says, I'm not gonna hurt you. 689 00:33:48,693 --> 00:33:50,627 And I'm sitting there, watching like you're 690 00:33:50,629 --> 00:33:52,028 Watching the super bowl, you know, 691 00:33:52,230 --> 00:33:55,565 And I'm like, take them off, take them off. 692 00:33:55,567 --> 00:33:56,633 Do it. 693 00:33:56,835 --> 00:33:58,034 - He's asking for trust here. 694 00:33:58,036 --> 00:34:02,438 - Yeah, so calderon goes to take off 695 00:34:02,441 --> 00:34:04,340 His-his handcuffs. 696 00:34:04,342 --> 00:34:05,642 I look at everybody in the room, 697 00:34:05,844 --> 00:34:07,878 And I say get ready. Here he comes. 698 00:34:10,015 --> 00:34:11,915 - And here it came. 699 00:34:25,596 --> 00:34:29,632 ♪ 700 00:34:29,834 --> 00:34:30,901 - Welcome back. 701 00:34:31,103 --> 00:34:34,604 After an intense manhunt, detectives were convinced 702 00:34:34,606 --> 00:34:37,073 They finally nabbed the killer of laredo. 703 00:34:37,075 --> 00:34:39,942 And he was a man with a badge. 704 00:34:40,144 --> 00:34:42,278 Border patrol officer juan david ortiz 705 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:46,149 Was now being grilled about the murders of three women. 706 00:34:46,351 --> 00:34:47,950 Would he crack? 707 00:34:47,952 --> 00:34:51,554 Even the veteran investigators would never forget 708 00:34:51,756 --> 00:34:53,890 What he was about to tell them. 709 00:34:54,092 --> 00:34:56,092 Here's josh mankiewicz with the conclusion 710 00:34:56,294 --> 00:34:59,429 Of "the streets of laredo". 711 00:34:59,631 --> 00:35:02,699 - Investigators were trying to learn more from ortiz 712 00:35:02,901 --> 00:35:06,169 And la gordiloca was live with the latest. 713 00:35:06,371 --> 00:35:08,505 - The man who was detained last night. 714 00:35:08,707 --> 00:35:11,574 In the parking lot of that hotel 715 00:35:11,576 --> 00:35:13,576 Is a border patrol agent. 716 00:35:13,778 --> 00:35:15,978 - She told her audience the man who had sparked 717 00:35:16,180 --> 00:35:19,782 Such fear in the city of laredo for the last two weeks 718 00:35:19,984 --> 00:35:21,317 Had been caught. 719 00:35:21,519 --> 00:35:24,921 - We had, or we-we might have 720 00:35:25,123 --> 00:35:27,957 A serial killer in our hands. 721 00:35:27,959 --> 00:35:32,496 - A captive ortiz was speaking to a captivated audience. 722 00:35:37,736 --> 00:35:40,637 - He said he'd taken his san bernardo friend 723 00:35:40,839 --> 00:35:43,239 To score drugs late Sunday night, 724 00:35:43,441 --> 00:35:46,209 Then got upset when she got high 725 00:35:46,411 --> 00:35:48,345 And passed out in his truck. 726 00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:53,917 - He said, melissa began yelling 727 00:35:54,119 --> 00:35:56,285 She wanted out of his truck, 728 00:35:56,354 --> 00:35:58,388 And that was all it took. 729 00:36:04,562 --> 00:36:06,296 - And I asked him pacifically what gun to use. 730 00:36:06,498 --> 00:36:08,698 He said, he uses a service weapon. 731 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:12,235 - The service weapon issued by the border patrol, 732 00:36:12,437 --> 00:36:15,839 Along with the federal ammo his employer supplied. 733 00:36:21,246 --> 00:36:25,115 - And having made the jump from lawman to murderer, 734 00:36:25,117 --> 00:36:28,318 Ortiz said he wanted to do it again. 735 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,954 Ten days after he killed melissa, 736 00:36:31,156 --> 00:36:33,356 He picked up claudine luera. 737 00:36:33,358 --> 00:36:34,991 He said she was curious about 738 00:36:34,993 --> 00:36:37,694 Where melissa's body had been found. 739 00:36:37,696 --> 00:36:39,896 So he started to drive her out there. 740 00:36:51,442 --> 00:36:53,776 - Ortiz said he told her to get out, 741 00:36:53,778 --> 00:36:56,112 Then shot her as she turned her back. 742 00:36:59,851 --> 00:37:03,486 - Now, calderon and his team had to ponder this. 743 00:37:03,688 --> 00:37:07,490 Remember how investigators trying to solve melissa's murder 744 00:37:07,492 --> 00:37:10,292 Had reached out to the rest of law enforcement, 745 00:37:10,295 --> 00:37:12,428 Including the border patrol, 746 00:37:12,430 --> 00:37:16,298 Looking for melissa's friend, claudine luera? 747 00:37:16,301 --> 00:37:18,034 Ortiz's job with the border patrol 748 00:37:18,036 --> 00:37:21,637 Was to work in the bic, the border intelligence center. 749 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:24,374 - Yeah. - You think ortiz heard 750 00:37:24,376 --> 00:37:26,576 That you guys were looking for claudine luera 751 00:37:26,578 --> 00:37:29,012 And went out and found her and killed her? 752 00:37:29,214 --> 00:37:31,081 - I-I swear, I-- 753 00:37:31,083 --> 00:37:33,516 You know, the coincidence is just too... 754 00:37:33,518 --> 00:37:35,051 Too big, too strong. 755 00:37:35,053 --> 00:37:37,987 I think that he heard the call come in. 756 00:37:37,990 --> 00:37:41,323 I think that he-he was on full alert. 757 00:37:41,326 --> 00:37:43,359 - And thought, I gotta cover my tracks. 758 00:37:43,561 --> 00:37:45,528 - And thought, I've got to get to claudine 759 00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:48,264 Before they do. 760 00:37:48,466 --> 00:37:51,300 - Ortiz confessed to killing claudine, 761 00:37:51,502 --> 00:37:54,437 And melissa and guiselda, 762 00:37:54,506 --> 00:37:56,973 And assaulting erika. 763 00:37:57,175 --> 00:37:59,742 And he wasn't done. 764 00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:01,844 - He tells us, uh, and there's one more 765 00:38:01,846 --> 00:38:03,680 You probably don't even know about. 766 00:38:06,251 --> 00:38:08,151 - He sent them to a gravel mound 767 00:38:08,153 --> 00:38:11,153 15 miles outside of town. 768 00:38:11,155 --> 00:38:12,622 - A bunch of cops head up there with-- 769 00:38:12,824 --> 00:38:15,291 They all burst out of the room 770 00:38:15,493 --> 00:38:18,360 To get in their patrol cars and drive out there. 771 00:38:18,363 --> 00:38:21,964 - It's where they found 28-year-old janelle ortiz. 772 00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:26,335 Same last name, but no relation to the man who killed her. 773 00:38:26,404 --> 00:38:28,338 - Janelle ortiz fit the profile? 774 00:38:28,373 --> 00:38:33,375 - Fit the profile. Same-same work type. 775 00:38:33,378 --> 00:38:36,446 Worked in the same area. Also a drug user. 776 00:38:36,448 --> 00:38:38,314 - When law enforcement caught up to ortiz 777 00:38:38,516 --> 00:38:39,916 At that gas station, 778 00:38:40,118 --> 00:38:42,619 He had just returned from killing janelle. 779 00:38:49,594 --> 00:38:53,095 - Ortiz knew he was being hunted by law enforcement, 780 00:38:53,098 --> 00:38:56,732 And so accelerated his killing spree. 781 00:38:56,735 --> 00:38:58,868 And if you hadn't caught him, he wouldn't have stopped. 782 00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:00,903 - He told us that he was going to keep going 783 00:39:01,105 --> 00:39:02,805 Until he was caught. 784 00:39:03,007 --> 00:39:04,807 - In the room, ortiz offered motives 785 00:39:04,809 --> 00:39:07,877 That made him sound virtuous. 786 00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:12,148 He described murdering sex workers in cold blood 787 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:14,117 As a kind of public service. 788 00:39:40,111 --> 00:39:42,512 - Had he just made that up to avoid the shame 789 00:39:42,714 --> 00:39:46,015 Of being a cop who was also a customer? 790 00:39:46,218 --> 00:39:49,319 Or had he been afraid the women he'd been with 791 00:39:49,521 --> 00:39:51,554 Could have exposed him? 792 00:39:51,756 --> 00:39:54,090 You think what set ortiz off was 793 00:39:54,092 --> 00:39:56,126 That he let the women get too close. 794 00:39:56,328 --> 00:39:57,293 - Yes. 795 00:39:57,496 --> 00:39:59,161 I think what ended up happening, 796 00:39:59,163 --> 00:40:01,463 I think there was a power shift here. 797 00:40:01,466 --> 00:40:06,068 And starting with melissa, I think she crossed over, 798 00:40:06,270 --> 00:40:10,406 You know, from-from her world into his world. 799 00:40:10,608 --> 00:40:12,241 - And that gave her a lever? 800 00:40:12,243 --> 00:40:14,543 - Yeah, because she becomes now a threat 801 00:40:14,612 --> 00:40:16,212 To his-to his livelihood, 802 00:40:16,414 --> 00:40:18,948 To his-his family, his children, 803 00:40:18,950 --> 00:40:20,816 Uh, to his job. 804 00:40:20,819 --> 00:40:23,953 - D.A. Alaniz had enough to charge juan david ortiz 805 00:40:24,155 --> 00:40:26,088 With four counts of murder, 806 00:40:26,290 --> 00:40:28,824 One count of unlawful restraint, 807 00:40:28,827 --> 00:40:32,161 One count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 808 00:40:32,164 --> 00:40:35,097 And two counts of evading arrest. 809 00:40:35,299 --> 00:40:37,633 Melissa ramirez's mom, cristina, recalled 810 00:40:37,635 --> 00:40:41,037 How hard it was seeing ortiz for the first time 811 00:40:41,039 --> 00:40:42,672 At one of his hearings. 812 00:40:44,209 --> 00:40:46,208 - I saw him, and my heart accelerated, 813 00:40:46,210 --> 00:40:48,244 And I got so angry that I stood up 814 00:40:48,246 --> 00:40:50,913 And I shouted at him that he was a murderer. 815 00:40:50,949 --> 00:40:54,750 [shouting in spanish] 816 00:40:54,953 --> 00:40:56,585 - Order, order! 817 00:40:56,654 --> 00:41:00,222 - He just gave this smirk. 818 00:41:00,224 --> 00:41:02,925 And that literally sent chills down my spine. 819 00:41:03,127 --> 00:41:06,062 Like why is-- you know, you have this poor lady 820 00:41:06,264 --> 00:41:08,064 Screaming at you 821 00:41:08,066 --> 00:41:09,599 And you're just like... 822 00:41:09,601 --> 00:41:11,200 - This is a mom who lost a daughter. 823 00:41:11,236 --> 00:41:13,235 - Yeah. - And you're laughing. 824 00:41:13,437 --> 00:41:14,670 - Yeah. 825 00:41:14,872 --> 00:41:17,439 - Ortiz said his confession was coerced 826 00:41:17,441 --> 00:41:19,742 And pleaded not guilty. 827 00:41:19,944 --> 00:41:22,812 Four years later, a jury didn't buy it. 828 00:41:22,814 --> 00:41:26,282 Their verdict took less than five hours. 829 00:41:26,284 --> 00:41:27,883 - We, the jury, find the defendant, 830 00:41:27,886 --> 00:41:29,752 Juan david ortiz, guilty of the offense 831 00:41:29,954 --> 00:41:31,821 Of capital murder of charge in the indictment... 832 00:41:32,023 --> 00:41:34,891 - Juan david ortiz was sentenced that very night. 833 00:41:35,093 --> 00:41:39,629 Life in prison with no possibility of parole. 834 00:41:39,831 --> 00:41:44,467 It was a long fall for a decorated combat medic, 835 00:41:44,469 --> 00:41:47,237 A rising star of the border patrol 836 00:41:47,439 --> 00:41:50,139 And a married father of three. 837 00:41:50,141 --> 00:41:53,876 - Intel supervisor, had all this power, 838 00:41:53,878 --> 00:41:55,177 All this knowledge, 839 00:41:55,379 --> 00:41:59,015 Masters, educated, I mean, the list goes on. 840 00:41:59,217 --> 00:42:03,052 - For the victims' families, the verdict brought some relief. 841 00:42:03,254 --> 00:42:06,388 - I was very happy and wanted to yell. 842 00:42:06,590 --> 00:42:10,092 I wanted to, like, scream of excitement. 843 00:42:10,294 --> 00:42:12,995 And he just looked, um... 844 00:42:13,197 --> 00:42:14,930 I think he didn't care. 845 00:42:14,933 --> 00:42:17,600 - No emotion? - No emotion at all. 846 00:42:17,802 --> 00:42:19,768 But I felt so happy. 847 00:42:19,970 --> 00:42:24,474 - Ciara's life also changed in one good way. 848 00:42:24,676 --> 00:42:25,875 - And now you work for the sheriff's department. 849 00:42:26,077 --> 00:42:27,043 - I do. 850 00:42:27,245 --> 00:42:29,111 - How is that? - I love it. 851 00:42:29,113 --> 00:42:32,081 I think I am in the right place. 852 00:42:32,083 --> 00:42:34,150 And I know my mom would be so proud of me. 853 00:42:34,152 --> 00:42:35,852 I know she's proud of me. 854 00:42:39,090 --> 00:42:40,690 - That's all for this edition 855 00:42:40,692 --> 00:42:42,959 Of "dateline: Secrets uncovered". 856 00:42:43,161 --> 00:42:45,261 I'm craig melvin. Thank you for watching.