Suspect in Amarillo gas station murder has violent criminal past | KVII

Excerpt

The man accused of killing a womanfound dead in a gas station parking lot has a violent criminal past.John Paul Ortega, 35, is charged with murder in the death

John Paul Ortega is charged with the murder of Iliana Michelle Garza. The victim was found dead in the parking lot of the Toot'n Totum at I-40 and Lakeside Drive (Potter County Jail)

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The man accused of killing a woman found dead in a gas station parking lot has a violent criminal past.

John Paul Ortega, 35, is charged with murder in the death of Iliana Michelle Garza.

Garza was found unconscious Tuesday night in the parking lot of the Toot'n Totum at I-40 and Lakeside Drive.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not released any other details about the murder.

According to court records, Ortega pleaded guilty in 2007 to aggravated assault against a public servant and robbery.

He also has convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault of a child, possession of a controlled substance and cruelty to animals.

Ortega's mother said he was released from prison five months ago after serving a 15 year sentence.

"He is not an evil person," she said. "John Paul's never been given a chance because I his mom. I failed my son."

She blamed her drug addiction and stints in prison.

"I wasn’t there for him," she said.