A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent suspected of being a serial killer was arrested early Saturday morning and accused of killing four women in the Laredo, TX, area.
Several news outlets reported that Juan David Ortiz, a 10-year veteran at the agency, was arrested in a hotel parking lot in the border city of Laredo after a fifth victim managed to escape an attempted kidnapping.
The Associated Press reported that Ortiz worked as an intel supervisor for the Border Patrol.
According to KRGV-TV investigative producer Valerie Gonzalez, Ortiz confessed to all four homicides. Gonzalez said the case is the second homicide investigation in Webb County involving a border patrol agent from the Laredo sector.
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Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz described the victims, whose names and nationalities have not yet been disclosed by authorities, as sex workers, the AP reported.
According to The Dallas Morning News, two victims were found earlier this month along Interstate 35 in rural Webb County, while two others were found this weekend in the same area.
The newspaper said Ortiz had fled state troopers and hid in the parking lot where he was later arrested.
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A statement by Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said, “We want to reassure the citizens of Laredo that the community and your families are safe,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
Authorities said more details would be made public on Monday.
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