In July of 2019, Samuel Ortiz, 39, was reported missing by family members after he failed to return home. Relatives of the missing man stated he “never stays out, always comes home, and is always reliable.”According to news reports, the last sighting of Ortiz was July 6 or 7 at Cam’s Pizza on East Avenue.
Unfortunately, things took a tragic turn after a burning vehicle 19 hours away was found in Brandon, Florida. Later, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported the burnt dark blue 2009 Chevy Equinox belonged to Samuel Ortiz, the missing man from Rochester, NY. Just days later, police discovered a decomposed body in a garage on Lakeview Park. Sadly, it was determined to be Samuel Ortiz.
In July 2020, 28-year-old Kimberly Jones was arrested in Tampa, Florida, eighteen minutes from Brandon, Florida. She was later extradited to New York, held on a parole violation, and later charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. A second suspect, David Gardner, 42, was arrested and later indicted along with Jones by the Monroe County grand jury for the murder of Samuel Ortiz.
According to 13Wham, the accused murderers were indicted on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree robbery, and one count each of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
As of August 15, 2021, Kimberly Jones and David Gardner are being held in Monroe County Jail. An update to the pair's next court date or trial has not been published since January 11, 2021.
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