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U.S. NEWS Thursday 6 december 2018

Border Patrol agent charged

with capital murder in Texas

By JAMIE STENGLE ecutor said. his wife and two children
Associated Press A suspect can be charged when the killings occurred.
DALLAS (AP) — A U.S. Bor- with capital murder if he After the first slaying, Ortiz
der Patrol agent has been is suspected in more than continued going to work as
charged with capital mur- one killing in the same usual. He was only arrested
der after telling investiga- scheme with an overarch- after one victim was able
tors he killed four sex work- ing motive, Alaniz said. to escape him and asked a
ers whom he considered Three of the women were state trooper for help.
worthless and that he shot to death and one died "By day, he was a family
thought he was performing of blunt force trauma. man. The evidence shows
a service for his Texas bor- "The evidence that was that he was a supervisor,
der hometown, a prosecu- presented to the grand jury that he would go about
tor said Wednesday. this morning showed that his daily activities like any- This file photo provided by the Webb County Sheriff's Office
Webb County District At- he killed these four inno- body here. He appeared shows U.S. Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz.
torney Isidro Alaniz said he cent individuals in a cold, normal by all accounts and Associated Press
will seek the death penalty callous and calculating circumstances," Alaniz said.
if Juan David Ortiz is found way," he said. "At the nighttime, he was Pena, who told investiga- two victims — 35-year-old
guilty in the September Alaniz said the horrific na- somebody else — hunting tors that Ortiz acted odd- Guiselda Alicia Cantu and
slayings. ture of the killings and Or- the streets ... for this com- ly when she brought up 28-year-old Janelle Ortiz, a
"The scheme in this case, tiz's vigilante mentality were munity of people and arbi- Ramirez's slaying and later transgender woman whose
from Ortiz's own words, was factors in his decision to trarily deciding who he was pointed a gun at her in a birth name was Humberto
to clean up the streets of pursue the death penalty. going to kill next." gas station, according to Ortiz.
Laredo by targeting this Ortiz, who has been held in Authorities have said Ortiz court documents. Pena With Pena's help, authori-
community of individuals Webb County jail on a $2.5 knew some of the victims said Ortiz grabbed her shirt ties were able to track Ortiz
who he perceived to be million bond since his Sept. and that he targeted them as she tried to get out of to a hotel parking garage
disposable, that no one 15 arrest in Laredo, presents for their vulnerability. Me- his truck, but she pulled it where he was arrested.
would miss and that he did a clear danger to society, lissa Ramirez, 29, was slain off and ran, finding a state Ortiz was also charged with
not give value to," Alaniz he said. on Sept. 3, and 42-year-old trooper who was refueling aggravated assault with a
said at a news conference. The Border Patrol intel su- Claudine Luera was killed his vehicle. deadly weapon and un-
Ortiz, 35, thought he was pervisor and Navy veter- on Sept. 13. Ortiz fled and, he later lawful restraint in the attack
doing his civic service by an seemed to be living a On Sept. 14, he picked told investigators, he then on Pena, and evading ar-
killing the women, the pros- typical suburban life with up another woman, Erika picked up and killed his last rest or detention.q

Disneyland tower suggested as Legionnaires' disease source

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A testimony Tuesday before Upon questioning, Zahn
cooling tower that provides an appeals board judge at said he could not be 100
mist to make Disneyland the California Occupation- percent certain that Dis-
visitors comfortable was the al Safety and Health Ad- neyland was the source
likely source for 22 cases ministration, which is inves- without additional testing.
in a Legionnaires' disease tigating the case.Zahn said The disease is caused by
outbreak last year near the tests around the time of the bacteria that can grow in
theme park, a health offi- outbreak showed high lev- man-made water systems.
cial testified this week. els of Legionella bacteria People can develop pneu-
Most of those who got sick in two Disneyland cooling monia after breathing in
visited the park in the fall towers, which are part of an contaminated vapor.
of 2017. Disneyland has air conditioning system that A young girl who was diag-
denied it was the source, releases mist, the Los Ange- nosed with Legionnaires'
pointing to three infected les Times reported. He said after visiting Disneyland
people who had been in contaminated droplets last fall has filed a lawsuit
the city of Anaheim where likely spread to people in against the theme park.
Disneyland is located, but the park and beyond. Dis- "The facts don't support
not at the park itself. One neyland is appealing state In this Jan. 22, 2015, file photo, visitors walk toward Sleeping these claims and the law-
of them died. Dr. Matthew fines, saying the outbreak's Beauty's Castle in the background at Disneyland Resort in Ana- suit has no merit," Disney
heim, Calif.
Zahn of the Orange County source was not scientifical- Associated Press spokeswoman Suzi Brown
Health Care Agency gave ly determined. said Tuesday.q