Crime & Safety
Murder Victim's Family Files Suit Against Pierce County
Victim Jessica Ortega's family is alleging that police could have prevented her death.
UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA - A murder victim's family is suing the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, claiming police were "grossly negligent" in following up on domestic violence complaints, according to the Tacoma News-Tribune. In February 2016, Marcos Perea, 41, walked into the University Place Care Center and killed his estranged girlfriend, Jessica Ortega, 27, a nurse. Perea was killed by police after a chase and shootout along I-5 in Lakewood.
Now Ortega's family has filed a lawsuit against Pierce County for unspecified damages. Ortega reportedly called police multiple times as Perea had held her at gunpoint repeatedly. Perea was a violent felon on probation and wore an ankle monitor so law enforcement could track him, according to the suit.
A Pierce County Sheriff's spokesperson said the suit contains "significant misunderstandings and misinterpretations."
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