Naman Shrestha
In September 2018, Juan David Ortiz claimed to have taken four lives — Melissa Ramirez, Claudia Anne Luera, Griselda Cantu, and Jannelle Ortiz — all of whom were found shot to death in the Laredo, Texas, area. Thanks to the lone survivor of Juan, 26-year-old Erika Peña, his shooting spree came to an end before he could do any further damage. Her contribution in the apprehension of the killer is explored in NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Streets of Laredo.’ The episode delves deep into the deadly shootings that haunted the entire community by featuring insightful interviews with the loved ones of the four women who met their demise at the hands of Juan.
Erika Peña Escaped From Juan David Ortiz’s Clutches and Helped the Police
In September 2018, Erika Isamar Peña was working as a sex worker on the streets of Laredo, Texas, when she heard about the murders of some of her colleagues in the area. Unaware that Border Parole agent Juan David Ortiz was the one behind the killings, she got inside his truck on a street corner and drove down to his house on September 14. After she began talking about the recent murders, she claimed that he showed signs of nervousness. When she felt unsafe in his company, she convinced him to drive her to a nearby gas station at the intersection of McPherson and Loop 20. Upon feeling her suspicion towards him, he allegedly threatened her with his handgun.
Somehow, Erika managed to get out of his truck and ran straight to a police officer at the gas station. The survivor informed him about her horrific encounter with Juan and even led the authorities to his house. Thanks to her efforts, the serial killer was captured the following day. According to her mother, Adriana Rodriguez, that night traumatized her for a long time, so much so that she even needed psychological and medical intervention. To cover these expenses, the family set up a GoFundMe page and reportedly received more than $10,000 in donations.
Erika Peña Testified Against the Serial Killer During the Trial
A few months after helping the police put Juan behind bars, Erika also got in trouble with the law herself on April 30, 2019. That evening, in the 1000 block of East Travis Street, she reportedly got into a heated argument with a female relative and gave her death threats. When police arrived to arrest her for making a terroristic threat, she refused to cooperate and even ended up kicking one of the officers. Ultimately, Erika was detained on charges of assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, terroristic threat, and family violence. However, she was released on bond the next day. As per reports, her rap sheet also consisted of two convictions for possession of a controlled substance, failure to identify fugitive with intent to give false information, and failure to identify by giving false and fictitious information.
At the time, she also had a couple of open cases for criminal trespass and possession of marijuana. In late November 2022, the trial of Juan David Ortiz in connection to the murders of Melissa Ramirez, Claudia Anne Luera, Griselda Cantu, and Jannelle Ortiz commenced. Erika Peña was a key witness who testified against him and described the events of the evening of September 14, 2018, in front of the Bexar County courtroom. On the other hand, the defense tried to discredit her testimony by emphasizing her drug addiction and the 2019 charges. Upon getting questioned about the latter, she claimed that she could not seem to remember the crime.
Erika Peña Has Rebuild Her Life With the Support of Her Partner and Family
Nearly seven years after the night that changed her life, Erika Peña seems to have found stability in all aspects of her life. The United South High School graduate has finally found the love of her life in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin native Tate Gonzalez, with whom she has been engaged in a healthy relationship for years now. He obtained his education from Delavan-Darien High School and went on to pursue higher studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Although the two have set their relationship status to “in a relationship” on their social media platforms, it appears that the two have gotten married, as Erika refers to Tate as her husband. Not just that, the two embarked on the journey of parenthood in June 2023 with the birth of their baby boy, Andrew Tate Gonzales.
Over the years, Tate and Erika have faced multiple challenges as well as triumphs and emerged victorious only by navigating through it all with utmost understanding and support. Erika also has a daughter named Regina from a previous relationship. The mother of two is quite elated with the fact that Tate and Regina have wholeheartedly accepted each other into their lives. Regina absolutely adores her baby brother, and the two have developed a close bond. On June 2, 2024, Erika shared that her heart was full upon witnessing those who matter the most to her get together for Andrew’s baptism. Erika also seems to be on good terms with her parents. In October 2023, she shared that she met her father, E E Peña, after a decade.
Alongside an adorable picture of the father-daughter duo, she penned a heartwarming caption wherein she expressed, in part, “this is a very special day for me god works mysterious ways 💖” She also appreciated her partner for standing beside her as her biggest support. “Tate Gonzalez thanks babe for being there thru out my journey,” Erika added. She is also close to her mother, Adriana Rodriguez, who never misses an opportunity to shower her grandchildren with all her love. In their downtime, Erika and Tate manage to take time out for dinner and lunch dates to make each other feel special and ensure the spark in their relationship remains unwavering. Amidst all that, she also takes time out for herself, especially when little Andrew is at his daycare. Thus, from what we can tell, Erika is leading a fulfilling life in the company of those who love her and those she holds dear to her heart.
Read More: Melissa Ramirez and Claudine Luera Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
