Martin County Superior Court judge sentenced Oscar Gil, 25, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the strangulating death of Diana Ortiz, 23. Gil pleaded no contest to avoid the death penalty. He was found guilty and convicted of first-degree murder.

On Sept. 14, 2019, officers responded to the Jensen Public Beach parking lot on Hutchinson Island, Florida, after a passerby found Ortiz’s body. She was declared dead at the scene. According to prosecutors, Gil, who was friends with Ortiz, had been at a bar couple of hours earlier.

During the morning hours, the duo proceeded to Sea Turtle Beach in the defendant’s pick-up truck. While in the vehicle, Gil started making advances on the victim before she rebuffed him. Soon, an altercation ensued, leading the duo out of the car and Gil strangling Ortiz.

During the struggle, Ortiz managed to break free and made a run for it. Then Gil returned to his truck and chased her before running her over. After a few attempts to lift Ortiz’s limp body unto the flatbed and the passenger side of the truck, the defendant fled the scene leaving her body in the parking lot.

However, Gil didn’t’ get far before Stuart police arrested him after he got involved in a car crash in the Confusion Corner area of the city. Upon a quick investigation of Gil’s vehicle, Ortiz’s purse and driver’s license were found. At the time, the defendant was deemed intoxicated.

Later, one of Gil’s friends told investigators the defendant had called him and confessed to the crime.

“I killed, Diana, bro,” said Gil to the friend repeatedly, according to reports.

At the crime scene, authorities recovered video footage from security cameras that captured the entire incident. In addition, an autopsy report showed the victim’s cause of death was due to asphyxiation, while her body was covered with bruises on her neck, torso, arms, and legs.

Gil apologized to Ortiz’s family, but could not explain his motives to them.

“The truth is, I don’t know what happened to me, I was really drunk. We started fighting; I never had anything against her. She was a really good friend. I would love for things to be different. No one deserves what happened to her. No one deserves to lose their sister, daughter, a friend in this way. I’m truly sorry for all the pain I’ve caused,” said Gil through an interpreter during the sentencing hearing, it was reported.

Original Article