SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Detectives released the cause of death of an Oviedo woman as asphyxiation, according to an affidavit.
New documents suggest an Oviedo woman found dead in her home last month had recently gotten into an argument with her son, who authorities have charged in her death.
Detectives said Joshua Ortiz and his mother, Jaqueline Ortiz, were fighting on Oct. 19, two days before her two other sons stumbled upon her body inside her Oviedo home.
Channel 9's Tim Barber was in court on Monday as Joshua Ortiz appeared before the judge, looking ashamed as the judge read him the charges. He was denied bond.
On Monday, detectives released the cause of Jaqueline Ortiz's death as asphyxiation, according to an affidavit.
Joshua Ortiz, 20, was arrested in Maryland after authorities said he stole his mother's car and fled after killing her. He was brought back to Seminole County over the weekend.
Joshua Ortiz's public defender, Jeff Dowdy, admits his client has a tough case ahead of him.
"It's a very sad case and a very sad story," said dowdy. "I met Mr. Ortiz for the first time this morning, and he is very scared, very frightened."
Authorities said Joshua's brothers, Zachary, 24, and Samuel Ortiz, 18, told them they suspected their brother had something to do with their mother's death.
In the 911 call obtained by Channel 9, Zachery Ortiz, who was giving his mother CPR, can be heard screaming Joshua's name, saying that he was going to kill him.
According to the affidavit, Jaqueline Ortiz's body was covered in bruises and scratches.
Joshua Ortiz's father said he believes his son was off medication for mental illness when he allegedly killed his mother.
But prosecutors said a week before Jaqueline Ortiz's death, Joshua appeared to be competent so much so that he was elected the foreman of a jury for a DUI case.
When deputies arrived, they searched the house and found the woman's purse and her belongings scattered throughout the garage. Her car keys were missing.
Joshua Ortiz was arrested after being spotted in Maryland, where state police pulled him over on Interstate 95 outside Baltimore. He was charged with grand theft auto and later with second-degree murder in his mother's death after Seminole County detectives arrived in Maryland to question him.
Authorities said they initially listed Joshua Ortiz as missing and endangered because he made suicidal statements.
Oviedo police and Seminole County deputies have been to the Ortiz home on multiple occasions. Police reports show Joshua Ortiz had been accused of battering his mother and on another occasion waving a sword at his father, who is a former Orange County deputy.
He has an arrest record and has been charged in the past with burglary and theft, according to court records.
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