Florida – In a horrific incident in Florida, a man fatally stabbed his 21-year-old ex girlfriend, identified as D. Ba, in front of her toddler,
while out on pretrial release for previous domestic violence charges against her. The 29-year-old man, identified as O. Ortega, has been convicted of second-degree murder with a weapon, as announced by the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
The murder of Ba occurred on September 17, 2020, in her home.
Assistant State Attorney C. Lawrence emphasized the significance of the case in addressing domestic violence, expressing satisfaction with the jury’s decision to hold Ortega accountable for his brutal actions.
On the day of the murder, Ortega skipped work and went to monitor Ba’s activities, violating the restraining order the court issued a month before. The situation escalated from a verbal altercation to a violent physical confrontation. According to court records, after initially attempting to choke her, Ortega grabbed a knife and stabbed Ba multiple times in a horrific scene witnessed by their young child.
Responding to a distressing 911 call around 12:46 p.m., deputies from the sheriff’s office discovered Ba deceased on her kitchen floor, suffering from multiple stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, thigh, and defensive injuries to her arm and back. The murder weapon was not located at the scene. The initial call to 911 was made by an individual Ortega had contacted, claiming Ba had inflicted the injuries on herself.
Security footage from the mobile home park captured Ortega’s vehicle entering and leaving the vicinity shortly before the murder. His rapid departure was further evidenced by toll booth camera footage capturing his car headed towards a nearby city shortly after the incident.
This heinous act occurred while Ortega was under strict court orders to avoid any contact with Ba, stemming from an earlier domestic battery by strangulation charge involving her. He was also on felony probation for a separate case at the time of the murder. The swift action by law enforcement facilitated Ortega’s timely apprehension and subsequent trial, where he was found guilty. As the legal proceedings conclude, Ba’s family, especially her young child, who witnessed the tragedy, are left to cope with the immense loss and long-lasting effects of this domestic violence incident.
