Salinas woman recounts story of daughter’s murder
It was Cicero, the Roman philosopher and statesman, who said there is but one essential justice which cements society.
We get that, he argued, from our sense of right and wrong. For Angie Ortega, that sense of wrong pierced straight through her heart in February 1993.
“They strangled, beat my daughter brutally, and then they tried to set the place on fire,” she said. “They tried to kill my daughter four to five different ways.”
Police arrested one of the killers, who was sentenced to 15 to life in prison. Ortega says their case was not strong enough for the death penalty, and they settled for a plea bargain.
But her sense of justice has always demanded more for her daughter Lorraine’s brutal death.
“An eye for an eye, and I’ve always said that. And it’s only just because you take somebody’s life,” said Ortega.
For her and many other victims of murder in California whose killers are on death row, the moratorium placed by Governor Gavin Newsom betrays every sense of justice for their loved ones.
“I hope that it’s overturned because our victims need to be honored and there has to be a voice, we need to fight for them,” said Ortega.
The justness of the death penalty, however, is not so clear for others who argue our justice system is not perfect.
“If someone’s been proven guilty and then later exonerated because of DNA evidence, then that kind of proves that our system is flawed,” said Oscar Warner, a Santa Cruz resident.
Lorraine’s killer was released from prison last year after serving 25 years, according to Ortega.
She says lawmakers in Sacramento made it possible for him to be released as a youthful offender. She says while the release devastated her, she has come to terms with it.
“It’s a new beginning and we can now live our lives and honor Lorraine, honor what Lorraine stood for, what she did, what she could’ve been and then help other victim survivors as well,” said Ortega.
Ortega will be attending the Monterey County National Commemoration of Victims’ Rights Week. It is happening on Friday at noon at the Monterey County Government Center.
