A woman who was previously arrested in connection with the death of Garden City businessman Ernie Ortiz, has had the charges of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery dropped in the case.
KSN News reached out to the county attorney, who responded on Tuesday afternoon. According to the attorney, Smith admitted guilt on November 7th. However, the charges were amended to conspiracy to commit robbery.
In her statement, County Attorney Susan Richmeier acknowledged the profound impact of Mr. Ortiz’s death on his loved ones and the community. She expressed her understanding of the devastation experienced by Ernie Ortiz’s family, friends, and the surrounding community.
According to the statement, law enforcement and the Finney County Attorney’s Office considered all the facts and circumstances known at the time of the plea when amending the complaint to a reduced charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.
In September 2019, Ortiz, aged 69, tragically lost his life outside El Conquistador, the restaurant he had owned for nearly four decades. It is believed that he was fatally wounded during a robbery while closing the business for the night. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Ortiz unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
The man arrested in connection with the homicide was later released when the charges against him were dismissed.
Ortiz’s family was the first to collaborate with Crime Stoppers of Garden City in offering a dedicated reward for a particular case. To raise funds for the reward, the family initiated a  GoFundMe campaign through the Justice for Ernie Ortiz Facebook page.
On November 7, Smith’s complaint was modified to the reduced charge of conspiracy to commit robbery. The court has set her sentencing date for December 4.
KSN contacted the Garden City Police Department regarding the change in charges. A spokesperson from the department confirmed that the Ortiz murder case is still ongoing and being actively pursued.
The police stated that Ernie Ortiz was a respected and cherished member of the Garden City community. His passing had a profound impact not only on his family and loved ones but also on the entire community. The Garden City Police Department has dedicated over five years of relentless effort to uncover the truth and offer a sense of closure to Mr. Ortiz’s family. Their unwavering commitment is aimed at ensuring that those accountable for his untimely demise are brought to justice.
We reached out to the Ortiz family via their Facebook group, Justice for Ernie Ortiz. They expressed their preference to hold off on making any additional comments until after the sentencing.
Smith’s sentencing has been scheduled for December 4th.
