It's a case that rocked the Rochester community. Now, just over a year after the badly decomposed body of Samuel Ortiz, 39, was found in a Rochester garage, a suspect in his case now faces a judge.

Kimberly Jones, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Court paperwork says Jones, along with an accomplice, abducted, assaulted, and restrained Ortiz in a manner that led to his death.

What You Need To Know


  • Kimberly Jones, 28, has been charged with murder, kidnapping, and robbery after Samuel Ortiz, 39, was found dead in a Rochester garage in 2019

  • Police say Jones and an accomplice kidnapped and assaulted Ortiz

  • Officials say Jones was a parole absconder at the time of the murder

  • Jones was taken into custody in Florida in 2019 after police say she had cut off her ankle bracelet, and had been in Albion Correctional Facility until her arrest this week

Ortiz was last seen alive on July 7, 2019, a few days before his burned car was found in Brandon, Florida.

His badly decomposed body was found days later in a garage on Lakeview Park in Rochester. 

Police say Jones was a parole absconder at the time of the murder.

According to court documents, Jones fled to Florida after Ortiz's death. Jones was taken into custody in Florida after police say she had cut off her ankle bracelet. She was brought back to the Albion Correctional Facility, re-paroled, and released. She was then immediately arrested by Rochester police on the murder charge. 

"Mr. Ortiz was an important member of this community and we hope to move forward on this matter as quickly as possible," said Perry Duckles, Monroe County first assistant district attorney.

Duckles shared a message for Ortiz's family.

"I hope that the family realizes that nobody ever stopped on this investigation, even with everything that's been going on in the world," he said.

Jones is expected back in court July 21.