UPDATE: Houston County murdered teen found dead in river
Posted/updated on: May 16, 2025 at 3:23 am
HOUSTON COUNTY – UPDATE: Graphic Warning: The following contains graphic content that some might find disturbing. Discretion is advised.
Our news partner, KETK, reports that an affidavit from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office sheds new details on the murder of a 16-year-old who was found near a riverbank with his left hand missing in early May.
Officials believe Michael Ortiz was killed on April 29 in the area of Mt. Olive Baptist Church on County Road 4020 in Crockett.
During the investigation, an eyewitness told the Crockett Police Department that she saw Emmanuel “Manny” Mata, two juveniles and Edgar Hernandez, including his 2012 Ford Mustang, at the Mt. Olive Church on the night of the murder.
“On the night of April 29, the witness states that once she heard his [2012 Ford Mustang] she left her residence and made her way to the church,” the affidavit said. “Once she arrived at the church, she was met by the two minors and Mata. All three men stated that she needed to get out of there, and she didn’t want to be part of what was going on.”
The witness explained to police that she didn’t hear anything while she was there, and once the men told her to leave, she turned around and went home.
By May 2, an elected official notified the sheriff’s office that a search for Ortiz had begun where family members believed he had been killed.
“In [the elected official’s] statement, he got to the bridge crossing a creek nearby and shined his light on the banks of the creek. [The official] stated that after searching the banks with his light, he observed what he thought was a body in the water, close to the bank,” the affidavit reads.
Once officials arrived, they retrieved the body and confirmed it was Ortiz who had suffered extensive damage:
“Ortiz was missing his left hand and missing the majority of the skin on his left arm. Ortiz was also observed to have severe bruising to multiple areas of his entire body. Several severe lacerations were observed in the scalp.”
The sheriff’s office believes Ortiz had been assaulted with a metal pipe that was later found. “While the deceased was being recovered, it was clear that Ortiz sustained major injuries from an assault.”
An investigation into his murder then began, where officials found Ortiz’s phone had pinged near the church. This led officials to believe there was a second crime scene.
“Suspected blood was observed and located at a storage building behind the Mt Olive Church on the entry door,” the affidavit said. “Due to weather conditions from the time of the homicide, up to the time of the body being discovered, it had rained heavily, so there wasn’t a lot of visible evidence.”
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators worked on May 3 and May 4 to interview potential persons of interest before they seized Hernandez’s 2012 Ford Mustang on May 5. The following day, investigators seized two more vehicles they believe are connected to Ortiz’s death.
According to Hernandez, Ortiz went into his vehicle after being asked if he wanted to smoke, and they drove around Crockett, where they ended up at the church, where the blood was located at the door.
“Hernandez states that [redacted] hits Ortiz in the head with a gun and then Mata, [redacted], beat Ortiz with a metal pipe and their hands. Hernandez states that once Ortiz is no longer moving, the beating stops. Hernandez states that he hears Ortiz state he won’t rob them anymore and begs them to stop. Hernandez states that the beating began in the building and ends up outside of the building. Once the beating is over, Michael is loaded into the back of the black truck.”
Hernandez, Mata and the two minors then head to the ditch where they dumped Ortiz’s body, the affidavit said.
“Once Ortiz is in the ditch, everyone gets back into their vehicles they were in and
leave,” the affidavit said. “Hernandez states that he then drives his mustang to his RV and they discuss burning the bloody clothes.”
According to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Hernandez, Mata and the two minors were arrested for the murder of Ortiz. Hernandez and Mata are being held on a $2 million bond at a different location for their safety, and they continue to search for people suspected of being involved in Ortiz’s death.
ORIGINAL STORY: Our news partners at KETK report that according to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Crockett Police Department and Texas Rangers, they were able to arrest suspects in connection to the death of Michael Ortez on Tuesday. “Due to the sensitive nature of this case no further information will be released at this time,” the sheriff’s office said. “We ask that you respect the families privacy during this difficult situation and we will update the public in full at the end of the investigation.
