Not-guilty plea entered in killing of wife

Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

A 44-year-old Mexican citizen accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife in front of their 11-year-old daughter and two police officers Saturday morning pleaded not guilty on Thursday.

Ortiz is charged with murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of kidnapping. He is being represented by Public Defender Timothy O'Brien.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron scheduled a preliminary hearing for Ortiz for Nov. 8. Ortiz, who remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, unsuccessfully asked Bennett-Haron to release him on his own recognizance on Thursday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane said the district attorney's office is considering seeking the death penalty for Ortiz. Kane said a decision could come within the next few weeks.

According to police, two officers were giving a traffic ticket to a driver in the 400 block of North Eastern Avenue about 1:40 a.m. Saturday when a small sedan pulled alongside their squad car and honked. The officers heard a woman scream and then saw Ortiz grab the woman and shoot her in the head, they allege.

Ortiz then threw the pistol out of the window and was immediately arrested, police said. Maria Ortiz died at the scene of the shooting. Their daughter was in the back seat of the car.

Police said Ortiz had been arrested in the past on allegations of domestic violence.

Maria Dolores Ortiz, 36, a resident for eight years, was a static board operator at the Luxor.

She is survived by two daughters, Amity Hernandez and Ruby Ortiz; one son, Christian Hernandez; her mother, Rosa Madrigh; her father, Jesus Hernandez; one sister, Rita Hernandez; and two brothers, Albino Hernandez and Jesus Guillen.