1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: All right, Ashley, you have the right to remain silent. 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: If you give up that right, anything you say can 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: be used against you and court. You have the right 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: to talk to a lawyer now and have him or her. 5 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 2: It's October twenty twelve and twenty five year old Ashley 6 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 2: Royball is in custody in New Mexico. She was charged 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 2: with burglary and felonie larceny and waved her right to 8 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: remain silent. Instead, Ashley told investigators that she had some 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: information about the unsolved murders of Lloyd Dixie and Stephen Ortiz. 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: The three were bludgeoned to death by pickaxe on Father's 11 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: Day twenty eleven in the tiny town of l Rancho, 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 2: New Mexico. 13 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 3: I'm actually the case agent on the jam side of 14 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 3: the ERTs family now Nancho, Okay. 15 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: It had been sixteen months and there had been no 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: arrest or even major leads. 17 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 4: In the case. 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: The victim's daughter, Shari, was the only person talked about 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: in town as a potential suspect. 20 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 3: I understand that you know some details. 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 2: I no, I did it. Imagine how surprised detectives were 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 2: when Ashley says she knows who killed Lloyd, Dixie and 23 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: Stephen Ortiz. 24 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 3: So why are you telling us? 25 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: Because it's not right to see a good people. 26 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 5: I grew up with Stephen. 27 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 3: I'm to school with him, you know what I mean. 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, detectives knew what she meant. Ashley Royball says she 29 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: was close with all three and mentioned that when her 30 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: own mother died, it was Lloyd and Dixie who helped 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: pay for her funeral. 32 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 3: I wanted to come and I just couldn't. 33 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: So Ashley Roiball was finally ready to break her silence. 34 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: I'm slung glass. And this is the conclusion of the 35 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: Father's Day Murders on American Homicide. This podcast contained subject 36 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: matter which may not be suitable for all audiences. Discretion 37 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: is advised. 38 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 6: I've known Ashley since around two thousand and one. 39 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 2: Pastor John Trujillo first met Ashley roy Bay when she 40 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:01,639 Speaker 2: was in middle school. 41 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 6: She started coming to church as a little girl. Actually, 42 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 6: and her sisters we absolutely loved. She was always at 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 6: the church always. I don't think it was in a 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 6: day that go by that her and her sisters were 45 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 6: never at the church. They would come and clean, they 46 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 6: would come and help us with the yard. They would 47 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 6: help us with performances with dramas. They were always part 48 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 6: of our church, or always part of our family. 49 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: The pastor also knew Ashley outside of the church. 50 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 6: She grew up with my sons because they were all 51 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 6: the same age. She even went to problem with my 52 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 6: oldest son, and it was strange because she. 53 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 4: Was always willing to help. 54 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 6: But as she got older, she became less and less 55 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 6: involved in the church, to the point where she never 56 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 6: came back again. 57 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: Only knew is what he heard. Then Ashley went down 58 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: the proverbial wrong path. 59 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 6: I would hear bits and pieces that she was running 60 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 6: with some of the wrong people, with the wrong crowds, drinking, 61 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 6: drug use, you know, even to the point where she 62 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 6: was even getting involved doing things a little bit criminal. 63 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 2: By the time Ashley turned twenty five, she racked up 64 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: by a lengthy rap sheet, including three felonies. Following her 65 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: arrest in twenty twelve, she decided to clear her conscience. 66 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: She told the police she had first hand information about 67 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: the twenty eleven triple murder in al Natcho. 68 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 3: So it was Father's Day time. 69 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: Though, Ashley said, back in the early morning hours Father's 70 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: Day twenty eleven, Nick Ortiz needed Ashley to pick him up, 71 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: but why did he call Ashley well, despite the fact 72 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: that she was several years older than him. Nick was 73 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: Ashley's ex boyfriend, so this gets a little confusing. Although 74 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: Nick shared the same last name as Lloyd, Dixie and Stephen, 75 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: they aren't related, but they did act like family and 76 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: along with that, Nick was friends with Sharie or TI's 77 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: son and her brother Stephen. Nick even lived with Sharif 78 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 2: for a few weeks when he was having issues with 79 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: his parents. 80 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 6: She would invite him to stay there spend the night. 81 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 6: Sometimes he became, you know, good friends with Scheri, Jesse, 82 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 6: you know, the kids, and he was part of our church. 83 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: Nick Ortiz also went to Pastor John's church. 84 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 6: Nicholas was there almost pretty consistently. And I always willing 85 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 6: to help if we were doing something at church, what 86 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 6: do you need me to do? Or he would go 87 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 6: to the youth pastor and say, you know, what can 88 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 6: I help out with this? Or what can I do here? 89 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 6: And you know, constantly wanting to be part of what 90 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 6: we were doing. You know, he showed himself to be 91 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 6: a pleasant young man. 92 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: Let's get back to what happened in the early morning 93 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: hours a Father's Day twenty eleven, when Nick called Ashley 94 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 2: for a ride. 95 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 3: Do you remember how he sottled on the phone, panicked. 96 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 3: He sounded like he was in trouble. Yeah, just come 97 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 3: get me. 98 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: According to Ashley, Nick said he was near Stephen Ortiz's house, 99 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: so Ashley drove there, but when she arrived, she knew 100 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 2: something was wrong. Nick looked disheveled and he had a 101 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: trash back in his shoes. 102 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 3: Now when you picked him up, and. 103 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 5: That's when he told me that he used to pick as. 104 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 7: He told me that he got Lloyd first, and then 105 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 7: Stephen in the kitchen, then Dixie in the. 106 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: Virgin You heard that right, Ashley says. Nick admitted to 107 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: killing Lloyd, Dixie and Stephen Ortiz. 108 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 3: Did he ever give an explanation why it happened? 109 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: Well, he told me his intentions are going to rob them, 110 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: Ashley said. Nick knew Lloyd had cash and a marijuana 111 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: grow at the house because he had spent so much 112 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 2: time there. But instead of robbing them, Nick killed all 113 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: three and then left without any money or drugs. And then, 114 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: according to Ashley, he threatened her and told her she 115 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 2: better keep quiet. 116 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 5: And we talked Nick a couple of times already, but 117 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 5: if he decides to give it up, he starts naming 118 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 5: a bunch of the names. We needn't know if you're 119 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 5: going to come up. 120 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 3: I mean I didn't pick him up then, I. 121 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 5: That's all I did. 122 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: So, as you can imagine, the detectives wondered why Ashley 123 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: finally decided to break her silence. They spent the next 124 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 2: few days looking into Ashley's story, and when they reviewed 125 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: Nick Ortiz's cell phone records from the night of the murders, 126 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: something stood out, so they brought Ashley back for more questioning. 127 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 3: There's a lot more that you're not telling us. Okay, 128 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: there's a lot more involvement from some different people, and 129 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 3: that's what we need to clarify. 130 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 2: After coming Nick's cell phone records from that night, they 131 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: learned a third person was involved. So who else was 132 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: there that night? Sir Ashley said, This mysterious third person. 133 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 3: Was Jose, So why protect ho? 134 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: Sir Ashley said she was protecting Jose because he is 135 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 2: her cousin. At the time of the murders, Jose Roibald 136 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: was just fifteen years old, and omitting this information upset detectives. 137 00:06:58,520 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 3: I don't want to call it. 138 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: His attorney says, she gives a lot of information, but 139 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: for some reason she withheld this from us. 140 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 3: We don't need that. 141 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: And that's when Ashley changed her story and admitted that 142 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: her cousin Jose, was also there that night. Reporter Alex 143 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: Tomlin covered this story. 144 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 8: So Ashley tells the police that they can cock this 145 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 8: plan to go for and steal money in marijuana, and 146 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 8: that Nicholas knows the house, he knows the family, he's 147 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 8: going to be in and out right. She drops the 148 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 8: two guys, Jose and Nick Off at the family's house. 149 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 8: The way the story goes from there is Jose kind 150 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 8: of backs out, doesn't what I put it, bet, but 151 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 8: Nicholas decides to go ahead and go in. And he 152 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 8: goes in, he commits the crimes, and he calls to 153 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 8: get picked up, and she picks him up. He's obviously disheveled. 154 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 8: I'm sure he's extremely covered in blood after this horrific crime, 155 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 8: and he's throwing the pickaxe which was later found in 156 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 8: the field. Ashley roy Baal gives him a place to stay, 157 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 8: cleans him up up all that, and really they all 158 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 8: kept quiet. 159 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: The police then questioned Jose Roibaal, and Jose said Ashley's 160 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: story was not true. He claims it was Ashley who 161 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: came up with the idea to go in and murder 162 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: the or teases. 163 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 8: She supposedly gives them socks to cover their hands, trash 164 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 8: bags to cover their feet. 165 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: Not only that, but Jose said, Ashley left out another 166 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: key detail. She's the one who provided the murder weapon, 167 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 2: her grandfather's pickaxe. All of it left investigators wondering who 168 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: and what to believe. 169 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 8: There's things that kind of don't match ups or shifting stories, 170 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 8: and then, of course there's always the element that again, 171 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 8: she was facing her own criminal charges on other things. 172 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 8: So with Ashley and Jose, the question always remains what 173 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 8: part did they really play. 174 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: Although the cousins disagreed on some major details, they both 175 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 2: told investigators that the murderer was Nick or Tease. 176 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 8: It also just seemed so oh random. It was almost 177 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 8: like the answer everyone had been waiting for. That surely 178 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 8: someone must have broken in for something and done this, 179 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 8: But at the same time, it's been several years, nobody 180 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 8: had heard anything. All of a sudden it comes forward 181 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 8: that it's these teenagers, and not only is it teenagers. 182 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 8: It's teenagers who had been welcomed with open arms into 183 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 8: this family, and that was even more of a blow, 184 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 8: you know, But it started to make sense that, well, yeah, 185 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 8: because he knew the house, he knew how they were, 186 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 8: he knew that he could get in, and supposedly that 187 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 8: they had this cash. 188 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 2: Nick was living with your teases. But then just two 189 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: weeks before the murders, Nick kind of falling out with 190 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: them and Lloyd kicked Nick out. But we're things so 191 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 2: bad that Nick returned to kill them. 192 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 8: The only thing that adds up to me is thinking 193 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 8: about it in the mindset of a teenager, quick cash, 194 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 8: some pot, It's gonna be easy, and it just you know, 195 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 8: but yeah, I mean, like, as an adult sitting here, 196 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 8: what everything about this is so ridiculous. 197 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 2: The detectives have to figure out who's telling the truth, 198 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 2: Ashley or Jose Roibaal, and they figured the best way 199 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 2: to do that was to question Nick Ortiz. Ashley Roiball 200 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 2: is talking to New Mexico State Police. That's because the 201 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 2: town of al Rancho, where the murder of Lloyd Dixie 202 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 2: and Stephen Ortiz happened, doesn't have their own police force, 203 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 2: so the state police had to get involved. According to Ashley, 204 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: she said her ex boyfriend Nick Ortiz killed Lloyd Dixie 205 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: and Steven Ortiz. Keep in mind that Nick shares the 206 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 2: same last name of the victims, but they aren't related. 207 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: But Ashley's cousin, Jose says Ashley is the one who 208 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: came up with the idea to murder the r teses. 209 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: He says she even provided the pickaxe. Ashley refuted this. 210 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: She claimed she was simply the getaway driver that night. 211 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 2: Despite their differences, both cousins accused Nick Ortiz of actually 212 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: carrying out the murders, and in another crazy twist, the 213 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: state police heard a third version of what happened. When 214 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 2: they questioned Nick. 215 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: Ortis, your name has come up quite a bit, and 216 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: we're talking in reference to the orts sound site, which 217 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: happened a little over two years in twenty eleven. 218 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: And I know we had talked to you a few 219 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 3: times about it. 220 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: So I'm hoping that you can run me by pretty 221 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: much what happened. 222 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 2: So Nick agreed that he was with Jose Roi Ball 223 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: the day before the murders. 224 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 7: Me and them were just been hanging out, just almost 225 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 7: drinking a little bit getting high. 226 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 2: But Nick said he was back home with his parents 227 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: by ten pm that night, and then what. 228 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 3: Did you do after ten? I watched a few movies. 229 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 7: I woke my dad up around twelve one in the 230 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 7: morning and tell him Happy Father's Day. 231 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: After that, I went to sleep. 232 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 2: It's not easy to make out what Nick is saying, 233 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 2: but he told investigators that after watching a few movies, 234 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: he woke up his dad around twelve or one am 235 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: to wish him a happy Father's Day, and then Nick 236 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 2: said he went back to sleep. 237 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 3: But I have evidence that shows that you're lying to me. 238 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: I have phone records that prove that you were at 239 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: a certain place after ten pm and it wasn't home. 240 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: I've talked to Hossey recently, and I know that you 241 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: guys were together after ten pm. I know he didn't 242 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: drive you home at that time, and if he did, 243 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: you guys left again. 244 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 7: Later earlier I was with him and actually I don't know, 245 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 7: I know you were with them. 246 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, because you want to know something that's really interesting, 247 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: her phone. 248 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 3: Shows the same spot. Do you want to know where 249 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 3: that place is at? At sirtez ssidence? Okay, you were 250 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 3: there that night? 251 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 7: Uh, I'm gonna be honest with you, and this is 252 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 7: this is really the only thing I could remember. We 253 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 7: had a broken into the house and stole a gun. 254 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: You said, this is at Stevens house, right, yeah, i'd 255 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: you guys get into the house. 256 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 7: There's a bathroom window that was opened into there, Okay, 257 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 7: And I honest say, that's the only thing I could 258 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 7: remember that that might have happened around. 259 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 5: There at that time. 260 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 2: So Nick admitted to breaking into the Ortiz's house and 261 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 2: stealing a gun, but he didn't admit to the murders. 262 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 3: I know you guys did some stuff after that. We've 263 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 3: talked to all these people, We've done so much work. 264 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 3: It's been two years. These people have finally decided to say, 265 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 3: I don't want to light to us anymore. 266 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 4: This is what happened. 267 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: So why are these people putting themselves at around the 268 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: Orties residence and saying they were with you? Why would 269 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: they throw themselves under the bus. This doesn't look good 270 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: for you there. 271 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 7: I just I mean, I want this to be over 272 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 7: as much as you guys. I I'm tired of having 273 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 7: to look over my shoulder. I know you guys follow me. 274 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 8: I'm not done. 275 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 7: I see you guys, and I'm just I'm tired of it. 276 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 5: I just wanted to be over. 277 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 2: After ninety minutes of back and forth, investigators finally had 278 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: Nick cornered, but they weren't expecting what he said next. 279 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 7: With all due respect to you guys and all that, 280 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 7: I'd really like to just stop talking and. 281 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 6: Go on now, Nicholas, when he was in church, William 282 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 6: never told us a whole lot about any of this. 283 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: John Druhio was the pastor at next church. 284 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 6: At one point Nicholas did. Nicholas came and says, it 285 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 6: feels like something's unraveling or coming down the pipe and 286 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 6: I just need some prayer. And I said, well, what's 287 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 6: going on? What did you do? What happened? He says, well, 288 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 6: I can't say anything right now, but can you at 289 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 6: least can you just pray for me? And you could 290 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 6: see that he was very troubled, so we prayed with him. 291 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 6: I kind of had my suspicions that this was because 292 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 6: of the murders, because you know just how distraught he 293 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 6: was and how nervous he was, and how scared he was. 294 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 6: That was a different type of scare. It wasn't like 295 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 6: a scare you were going to get in trouble for 296 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 6: wrecking the car or for getting a speeding ticket. This 297 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 6: was a deep rooted fear that I saw in him. 298 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: In small towns like El Rancho, everybody knew one another, 299 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 2: and if someone was in trouble, it was public knowledge. 300 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 6: So at that point, I'm like, Okay, now it's time 301 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 6: to make sense. Now I can understand that deep, deep, 302 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 6: deep fear that Nicholas was dealing with, because all of 303 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 6: this was starting to come ondone. 304 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: In February twenty fifteen, almost four years after the murder's 305 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 2: police finally put a warn out for Nick or Tea's arrest. 306 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 2: Shari and Jesse Aretiz, who earlier were thought to be suspects, 307 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: were stunned. 308 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 6: They were in shock, almost disbelief. He stayed with him, 309 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 6: know he was part of their family. It's part of 310 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 6: the church family. We couldn't believe it. I was like 311 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 6: the Nicholas that's helping out, the Nicholas that's here every night, 312 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 6: the Nicholas. 313 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 3: Huh. 314 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 6: I never saw that coming at all. 315 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 2: Nick Ortiz was charged with three counts of first degree murder. 316 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 6: Some people were in such disbelief, they're wrong, he didn't 317 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 6: do it. He didn't do it. Then you had those 318 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 6: ever sayings. Finally they caught the killer. I knew it 319 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 6: was him. I knew it was him. 320 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 2: With a small town divided, Nick Ortiz's trial kicked off 321 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 2: in the summer of twenty sixteen. 322 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 4: My name is Dan Marlowe. I was hired by Nicholas 323 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 4: Ortiz's mother and father to represent him on the charges 324 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 4: of murder. 325 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: The trial was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, about 326 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 2: twenty five miles from the murder scene. 327 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 4: I've done a lot of a lot of trials, try 328 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 4: not to overreact to anything, to just be neutral and 329 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 4: fair and even keeled. But you know, I have to 330 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 4: say I was uncomfortable, you know, with the large contingent 331 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 4: of people from l Rancho. 332 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 2: The l Rancho group was made up of friends and 333 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 2: neighbors of the victims who wanted to see Nick Ortiz 334 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: locked up for life. 335 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 4: I was concerned that there was going to be some 336 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 4: kind of physical confrontation out in the front of the 337 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 4: courthouse between the Ortiz family and the group from l Rancho. 338 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 4: So there was some sparks there, definitely. 339 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: It took the police nearly four years to charge Nick 340 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 2: Ortiz and his lawyer thought the case against him was weak. 341 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 4: The defendant in this case had a real tight relationship 342 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 4: with the Ortiz family. He was almost like one of 343 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 4: their children, and he loved both of them, both Dixie 344 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 4: and Lloyd, and got along really well with him. 345 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 2: At the time of the murders, Nick Ortiz was just 346 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 2: sixteen years old. A scroll through a social media account 347 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 2: showed a teenager who took a lot of shirtless selfies 348 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 2: and posted motivational quotes like your future is created by 349 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 2: what you do today, not tomorrow. But the thing that 350 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 2: stood out the most in the courtroom was that Nick 351 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 2: stood just five feet five inches tall. Was he capable 352 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 2: of pick axing three people to death? 353 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 4: Wasn't the kind of person that would do something like 354 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 4: this in my perception, and I believed that he did 355 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,640 Speaker 4: not do it. I believe that he may He may 356 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 4: have had something to do with planning it or saying, yeah, 357 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 4: let's go in and get this money, but he did 358 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 4: not want anything to do with the physicality of killing 359 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:47,959 Speaker 4: these people. 360 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,959 Speaker 2: At the trial, jurors heard from two witnesses testifying that 361 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: they heard Nick admit to the murders, but one of 362 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 2: those witnesses was incarcerated at the time of the trial. 363 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 2: Son Robert also testified. He said he was friends with 364 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 2: Nick Ortiz and that Nick joined the family on trips. 365 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 2: They were generous to him. Nick even lived at their 366 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 2: house for a few months while he was having problems 367 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 2: at home, but things changed. Just two weeks before the murders, 368 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: Lloyd caught Nick trying to steal from them and kicked 369 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 2: him out. As heartbreaking as it is to hear Robert's 370 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 2: testimony against Nick, the prosecution's two key witnesses were cousins 371 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 2: Ashley and Jose Royball. 372 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 4: Both of those individuals were cousins, and Jose knew Nicholas. 373 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 4: They were bros, so to speak, considered themselves to be 374 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 4: gang members, although there was no gang that they were 375 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 4: really associated with. 376 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 2: Ashley testified that the plan was to rob the Ortizes 377 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: of money and marijuana, and that she was simply the 378 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 2: getaway driver, but her cousin Jose disagreed. He said it 379 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 2: was Ashley who came up with the idea of murdering 380 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 2: the Orteases. Although their stories differed, they did agree on 381 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 2: one thing. 382 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 4: Both he and Ashley said that Nicholas was the one 383 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 4: that did it and Jose and Ashley's story did not 384 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 4: match in any way during the planning, after the commission 385 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 4: of the crime, all of that which showed me that 386 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,679 Speaker 4: there was some problems there. There was conflicts in the testimony. 387 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 2: Aside from their stories now matching up, the defense claimed 388 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,719 Speaker 2: both witnesses had some real credibility issues. Ashley was in 389 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 2: her mid twenties and already had three prior felony convictions 390 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 2: when she was facing new charges. That's when she decided 391 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 2: to cooperate with the police and named Nick as the killer. 392 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: The defense pointed out how prosecutors offered Ashley some leniency 393 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 2: in exchange for testimony. 394 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 4: And she and Jose were real tight. They were first cousins. 395 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 4: They had every reason to put the blame on Nicholas 396 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 4: in order to get out of it, huge motive. 397 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 2: Jose Roibauld was just fifteen years old at the time 398 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 2: of the murders, and in exchange for his testimony, he 399 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 2: received immunity. 400 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 4: Of course, I'm a naturally suspicious person because I'm a 401 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 4: defense lawyer, but these are the kind of things that 402 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 4: I look at. It didn't set right with me. 403 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 2: The defense argued that there was no physical evidence linking 404 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 2: Nick Ortez to the murders. 405 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 4: There was nothing. There was no DNA, no fingerprints, nothing. 406 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 2: Nick Ortees did not take the stand in his own defense, 407 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 2: but his parents did. They testified that on the evening 408 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 2: before Father's Day, they all had dinner together and then 409 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 2: watched movies. Nick's father said he was in bed just 410 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 2: after midnight went, Nick came into his bedroom to wish 411 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 2: him a happy Father's Day. His mother had even more 412 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 2: to say. She said she saw Nick sleeping on the 413 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 2: couch when she returned home from work the next morning. 414 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 4: Basically, they saw him earlier that evening and then they 415 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 4: didn't see him for a while. Then he was there 416 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 4: the next morning. 417 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 2: But even though the intention was to help their son, 418 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 2: they did him no favors. When they shared this, they 419 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 2: said Nick never stayed at Shari's house. The only time 420 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: he spent any extended period away from home was with 421 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 2: a relative. The defense then shifted back to the murder 422 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 2: victim's daughter, Cherie or Ties. 423 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 4: Cherie was always complaining about not having any money, always 424 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 4: whining about it, and her conflict with Lloyd, and the 425 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:34,959 Speaker 4: fact that she needed money and was willing to do 426 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 4: anything to get money. That's why I suspected that she 427 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 4: was part of it, and I still do suspect that, 428 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 4: and I probably always will. 429 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 2: The case went to the jury on the Thursday before 430 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 2: Memorial Day. By the following Wednesday, a week later, the 431 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: jury remained hopelessly deadlocked. Just eight of the twelve jurors 432 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: voted to convict Nick, which resulted in a hung jury. 433 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 4: Which means a hung jury is a mistrial. Then you 434 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 4: just retry the case again. 435 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 2: Six months would pass before Nick Ortiz is retrial. It 436 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: took nearly four years for the police to charge Nick 437 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 2: Ortiz with murdering Lloyd Dixie and Stephen Ortiz, and after 438 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 2: a hungery in his first trial, he was retried just 439 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 2: after Thanksgiving twenty sixteen. Prosecutors painted Nick as a cold 440 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 2: blooded teenage killer, but the defense claimed that Nick had 441 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: been set up and the real killer was Jose roy Ball. 442 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 2: Dan Marlowe was Nick's lawyer. 443 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 4: I believe that Jose was hired to do this killing, 444 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 4: and I think somebody else came in there and cleaned 445 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 4: the scene up completely so that there was no prince, 446 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 4: there was no DNA. It was just was not what 447 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 4: you would think would happen in a scene like that. 448 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 2: Although roy Baal freely admitted that he was at the 449 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 2: scene that night, he was never charged in the Orties's 450 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 2: case and received immunity in exchange for his testimony against Nick. 451 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 4: He never spent a day in jail on this, not 452 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 4: even an hour. He wasn't even a suspect. 453 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 2: So the defense lawyer told durs that Jose walked around 454 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 2: free as a bird with blood on his hands. 455 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 4: There's no way around that, in my opinion. Who knows 456 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 4: what a jury's going to do? 457 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:33,239 Speaker 2: Nobody this time. The jury deliberated for two days and 458 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 2: then returned with a verdict on the three counts of 459 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 2: first degree murder. They found Nick or Tez guilty. Nick 460 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 2: buried his head in his hands as his family members 461 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 2: inside the courtroom burst into tears. Then things got ugly. 462 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 2: Nick was handcuffed and ushered out of the courtroom. His 463 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 2: mother shouted profanities at prosecutors and vowed to appeal. The 464 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 2: prosecutors didn't say a word and just exited the courthouse. 465 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 2: For Shari Ortiz, the nightmare for her and her family 466 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 2: was finally over, or was it. About nine months later, 467 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 2: a district judge reversed Nick Ortiz's conviction. In front of 468 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 2: a packed courtroom, the judge said there had been a 469 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 2: fundamental error with the jury instructions in the second trial. 470 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 2: The courtroom was stunned. Nick Ortiz's family erupted in excitement 471 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 2: and hugged one another. Even Nick's lawyer was surprised by 472 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 2: the judge's decision. 473 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 4: It was highly, highly unusual. 474 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 2: Schari Ortiz quickly exited without speaking to reporters, and the 475 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 2: judge never elaborated on what was the fundamental error in 476 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 2: the jury instructions. He also ordered that Nick betried a 477 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 2: third time. But then in twenty nineteen, two years later 478 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 2: and eight years after the murders, the new Mexico State 479 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 2: Supreme Court struck down the ruling and upheld mixed conviction. 480 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,360 Speaker 2: And here the decision came down to a technicality. Next 481 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 2: legal team didn't file his appeal within the ten days 482 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: from the time of his conviction. Whether you believe Nick 483 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 2: is guilty or not, it seems crazy that a lack 484 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 2: of paperwork is what resulted in him in getting a conviction. 485 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: Defense lawyer Dan Marlowe agrees. He called the decision disgusting 486 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 2: and cowardly. 487 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 4: Bothered me a lot. 488 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 2: As for Nick's former girlfriend, Ashley Royball. She was charged 489 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 2: with conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon 490 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 2: and tampering with evidence. As part of her plea deal 491 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 2: with prosecutors, she'll serve no more than ten and a 492 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:52,439 Speaker 2: half years in prison. Meanwhile, Nick Ortiz faced up to 493 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: ninety three years behind bars. His lawyer argued that Nick 494 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 2: needed rehabilitation services like therapy at probation, not prison time. 495 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 2: The judge disagreed and sentenced Nick to twenty five years 496 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 2: for each count a first degree murder. But Nick caught 497 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 2: a break here because the judge allowed Nick to serve 498 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 2: those sentences concurrently. 499 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 8: He is given twenty five years and in New Mexico 500 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 8: he will earn good time. 501 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 2: TV reporter Alex Tomlin covered the story, so he. 502 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 8: Will not spend most likely those twenty five years in prison. 503 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 3: He will be out before that. 504 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 2: New Mexico's stayed law mandates Nick Ortiz to serve at 505 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 2: least eighty five percent of his twenty five year sentence 506 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 2: with good behavior. He could be eligible for paroles sometime 507 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 2: around the year twenty thirty six, when Nick will be 508 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 2: in his early forties. 509 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 8: New Mexico has some interesting sendency laws. 510 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 2: Seri Ortiz called the sentence a slap in the face 511 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 2: to her family and the New Mexico justice system. She 512 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 2: placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the judge, 513 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: said she believes the New Mexico justice system is broken. 514 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 8: If you're part of the Ortiz family, it's never going 515 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 8: to be oh, this is and her husband. It's always 516 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 8: going to be, oh yeah, your parents were murdered. Oh yeah, 517 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 8: your brother was pickaxe to dad. You know, it's always 518 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 8: going to follow them, and it's gonna almost kind of 519 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 8: be like a scarlet letter. 520 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 2: Today. Shari or Teas and her family still live on 521 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 2: the property where her parents and brother were slaughtered. 522 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,120 Speaker 8: And I hope for her she's found some peace and 523 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 8: that that morning doesn't haunt her well. 524 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 2: Ashley Roibaal and Nick Ortis received time in prison. Jose 525 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,479 Speaker 2: Roibald got off scott free and listened to this. In 526 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, sharior Tis told a local newspaper that Jose 527 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: had even asked to collect a reward for helping to 528 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 2: solve the murders. 529 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 6: It becomes almost every man for themselves, and that's kind 530 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 6: of what happened in this case. Every man for themselves. 531 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 2: Pastor John Truvio continues to pray for Shari or Teas 532 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 2: in the community. 533 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 6: They are a very loved family in our community, a 534 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 6: church BACKSM, a community BACKSM. Shari's recently become a grandma 535 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 6: that house with the healing process it does. But this 536 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 6: will always be there. It will never ever go away. 537 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 6: It's hard enough to lose a family member to death, 538 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 6: but to lose three through murder, That's that's a tough one. 539 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 2: Yes, it is so, as you can imagine. The father 540 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 2: Say Holiday continues to be a painful reminder now Rancho 541 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 2: of the Grizzly murders of twenty eleven. 542 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 6: This will always stay in our hearts and then our 543 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 6: mindset that on Father's Day, this horrific crime took place. 544 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 6: But it didn't have to end this way. It didn't 545 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 6: if it was a burglary that even went wrong, run. 546 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 6: But to end the lives of three innocent people like 547 00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 6: this makes no sense at all. I've been passing this 548 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 6: community for twenty years. We've never experienced or seen anything 549 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 6: like this, and I pray we never ever do again. 550 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 2: Next time. On American Homicide, a young woman goes missing 551 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 2: on the eve of her twenty first birthday. After her 552 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 2: body turns up, the search for the killer leads detectives 553 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 2: to one of the most unlikely places, a church. I'm 554 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 2: Slung Glass. We'll be in Albuquerque, New Mexico. See you 555 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 2: next week. You can contact the American Homicide team by 556 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 2: emailing us at American Homicide Pod at gmail dot com. 557 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 2: That's American Homicide Pod at gmail dot com. American Homicide 558 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 2: is hosted and written by Me Slung Glass and is 559 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 2: a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, 560 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:58,959 Speaker 2: in partnership with iHeartPodcasts. The show is executive produced by 561 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 2: Nancy Glass and Todd Gams. The series is also written 562 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 2: and produced by Todd Gams, with additional writing by Ben 563 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 2: Fetterman and Andrea Gunny. Our associate producer is Kristin Melcurie. 564 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 2: Our iHeart tyap is Ali Perry and Jessica Crimecheck. Audio 565 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 2: editing and mixing by Matt Delvecchio, additional editing support from 566 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 2: Nico Ruka Tanner Robbins, Brent Roebashow, Dave Seya, and Patrick Walsh. 567 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 2: American Homicide's theme song was composed by Oliver Bains of 568 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: Noisier Music library provided by my Music. Follow American Homicide 569 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 2: on Apple Podcasts, and please rate and review American Homicide. 570 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 2: Your five star review goes a long way towards helping 571 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 2: others find this show. 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