2023-02-16 Ortega

Pregnant mother of 3 stabbed to death, boyfriend indicted for capital murder

Photo of spray paint markings left by Amarillo police in the parking lot of the Toot'n Totum at 8507 I-40 (I-40/Lakeside Drive). Police said Iliana Michelle Garza was found unconscious in the parking lot on November 29, 2022. She was pronounced dead from an apparent homicide (Jamie Burch/KVII)

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — A man accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend was indicted Wednesday for capital murder.

According to police, John Paul Ortega killed Iliana Michelle Garza on November 29, 2022 in the parking lot of the Toot'n Totum at I-40 and Lakeside Drive.

Ortega was arrested less than two hours later.

RELATED: Amarillo Police Department's 'Officer of the Year' arrested murder suspect in just 2 hours

Ortega was initially charged with murder.

During the investigation, police learned Garza was pregnant, so charges were upgraded.

According to court documents, Garza was stabbed to death.

John Paul Ortega was photographed in prison on (clockwise from top left) Dec. 20, 2005; Nov. 26, 2006; June 25, 2007; and Nov. 21, 2019. He was arrested for murder on Nov. 30, 2022. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

Ortega was released from prison five months before the murder after serving 15-years for sexual assault of a child, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault against a public servant, possession of a controlled substance and cruelty to animals.

Garza had three kids and was pregnant with a fourth.

"Iliana was a beautiful person, she was very humble and kind to everyone," said her obituary. "She enjoyed spending time with her family and dedicated her career as a correctional officer, She also served as a paraprofessional for the Juvenile Charter School."

The officer who arrested Ortega for murder was named the Amarillo Police Department's "Officer of the Year" on Thursday.