Mercer County Man Indicted For Murder In Girlfriend's Death

A Ewing man has been indicted on charges murder in the death of his girlfriend last year, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said Thursday morning.

Carlos Ortiz, 51, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and third-degree theft by unlawful taking in the death of 51-year-old Rufina Castro. He remains in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Ewing police arrived at Ortiz's residence at around 3 a.m. on Aug. 17, 2016, for a welfare check. When officers arrived, they found Castro’s body in a bedroom on the first floor, police said.

Further investigation revealed that Ortiz struck Castro in the head with a glass beer bottle and then strangled her with a cell phone charging cord during an argument the day before, police said. Ortiz attempted to hide Castro under a pile of clothes and blankets, and then fled to a motel in Belleville, according to police.

The attached image of Carlos Ortiz was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office