A Louisiana man accused of killing a 72-year-old woman and driving around with her decomposing body for nearly a month while stealing her identity is now on trial in Calcasieu Parish.
Prosecutors allege that Christopher Talton Cater, 43, murdered Sheila Ortega on July 21, 2023, before using her SUV and personal information to apply for loans. Detectives discovered Ortega’s body on Aug. 21 inside her vehicle, abandoned in a Lake Charles mall parking lot. Cater was arrested nearby the same day.
Jurors this week heard testimony that Cater allegedly confessed to killing Ortega, telling deputies he had kept her body in the vehicle for about 30 days. Authorities also presented evidence of Google searches made by Cater, including “The best way to get rid of a body” and “Does the insanity plea work in a murder case.”
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso detailed how Cater initially evaded suspicion. On Aug. 20, 2023, a deputy pulled him over in Ortega’s SUV. When questioned, Cater claimed Ortega was staying with friends in Arkansas. He was released after the stop, only for another deputy to locate the SUV the next day, where the smell of decomposition confirmed the worst.
“When we confront him, he says ‘I know why you’re here,’” Sheriff Mancuso recalled in remarks to local media.
Medical testimony this week revealed Ortega had multiple fractures to her spine, neck, and face, suggesting she endured several violent impacts.
The defense admitted Cater stole Ortega’s identity and disposed of her remains but denied intent to kill, claiming he only struck Ortega during a drunken confrontation. In an interrogation video played in court, Cater said Ortega reached for his groin, causing him to “snap and black out,” later finding her badly beaten.
Witnesses described Cater’s behavior in the weeks following the killing. A former coworker testified that he warned her to avoid the SUV, claiming it was his sister’s vehicle and “it stinks.” A bartender recalled Cater using Ortega’s credit card to pay for drinks, noting a foul odor that “I had never smelt anything close to.”
Originally charged with second-degree murder, Cater now faces upgraded charges of first-degree murder, identity theft, and unlawful disposal of human remains. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole.
The trial continues this week, with prosecutors pressing the case that Cater acted with intent, while the defense argues diminished responsibility.
