On October 6, 2021, 19-year-old Oscar Ortega was abducted at gunpoint in north Phoenix after leaving his girlfriend’s home around 2:00 a.m. Security footage shows the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jerssen Perez, forcing Ortega into a vehicle near Seventh Avenue and Union Hills Drive. Ortega texted his girlfriend during the abduction, which led his family to report him missing.

Perez drove about 25 miles to a remote desert area north of the 101 freeway and left Ortega’s body there, along with shell casings and other items. Perez later returned home with red stains on his clothes, confessed to family, and gave them the weapon; his family notified police.

Phoenix police located and arrested Perez the same day. Court documents state Perez admitted planning to kill Ortega for over a month and led investigators to the body. Perez was booked on multiple felonies, including first-degree premeditated murder, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence; bond was set at $1 million. Does anyone have information about Ortega’s last hours or saw activity near Seventh Avenue and Union Hills Drive that morning?