After guilty verdict in execution-style shooting, Mota-Cruz sentenced to life with 25 years parole
WORCESTER — A city man found guilty in the 2018 execution-style murder of Jose Ortiz was sentenced to life in state prison with maximum parole eligibility of 25 years Wednesday.
Kennie Mota-Cruz, 29, formerly of Stanton Street, sat stoically as he was sentenced and while two impact statements from Ortiz's sisters were read.
Friday, a Superior Court jury found Mota-Cruz guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder after a weeklong trial. The Worcester District Attorney's office sought a first-degree murder conviction.
Madeline Ortiz read a statement where she described how her brother, 42 when killed, was her protector from bullying ever since they were young.
"He was my rock. He was my world. Growing up it was always us against the world," Madeline Ortiz said.
Madeline Ortiz said she walks out of her room and is reminded everyday of Ortiz being shot in the third-floor hallway of the Everard Street building in which they both resided.
Her daughter, who told investigators that she heard voices and a gunshot on the night Ortiz was killed and shut the door to her room, is suffering from trauma associated with guilt over shutting the door and still jumps at noises she hears in the building.
In addition, she said her husband had to clean up the scene of Ortiz's murder and silently bears his trauma.
A second statement from Rebecca Ortiz was read by Assistant District Attorney Brett Dillon. Rebecca Ortiz's statement blasted Mota-Cruz and she said she frequently wished death on Mota-Cruz for killing her brother.
"You don’t deserve to live, breathe or even feel," the statement read.
Rebecca Ortiz said Mota-Cruz presented himself as her brother's friend, but Mota-Cruz does not understand the meaning of friendship.
Both of Ortiz's sisters acknowledged that Ortiz struggled with substance abuse, but said he was a generous man who could bring life to any room he was in. Madeline Ortiz described her brother as a "happy, crazy clown."
The district attorney's office sought the 25-year parole eligibility, with the gruesome nature of Mota-Cruz's crime as well as his criminal record as factors in their desired sentencing.
Mota-Cruz's attorney Tom G. Vukmirovits sought a 15-year parole eligibility, noting Mota-Cruz was enrolled in programs such as obtaining his GED and that he is less than likely to receive parole on his first petition.
Mota-Cruz will serve his sentence in state prison.
Mota-Cruz was convicted of killing Ortiz on Aug. 24, 2018, at 15 Everard St. Police said Ortiz appeared to be gunned down in an execution-style shooting and was on his knees.
According to the district attorney's office, Mota-Cruz is alleged to have had Ortiz selling drugs for him and became frustrated with Ortiz for owing him money associated to drug sales. Investigators believe Ortiz was shot after a brief argument.
Mota-Cruz was arrested 19 days after Ortiz's death nearly 500 miles away in Dunkirk, New York, roughly an hour west of Buffalo, as a fugitive from justice.
"It is my hope that this verdict helps bring some closure to the family of Mr. Ortiz," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said in a statement.
Two other Worcester men were charged in connection to the killing. Chayenne Markland is accused of driving Mota-Cruz and accompanying him when he killed Ortiz in a vehicle owned by Jermaine Daye.
Both were charged with accessory, after the fact, to murder. Markland has charges pending and Daye is deceased.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mota-Cruz sentenced to life with 25 years parole in execution-style shooting
