Man pleads guilty but insane in wife’s killing

Roberto Comer Ortega who stabbed his wife to death during a domestic violence dispute nearly two years ago has pleaded guilty but insane to a charge of first-degree murder.

This charge sends Ortega to a state mental hospital for the rest of his life.

Ortega was represented by attorney Jerry Hernandez of the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office and changed his plea on Thursday morning before Superior Court Judge Roger Nelson.

Ortega had originally been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer and aggravated assault on a peace officer-attempt to control firearm and resisting arrest. These charges came after police responded to his home on August 27, 2016, to investigate the stabbing death of his wife.

Officers were dispatched to his home that night after responding to a 911 call in regards to a domestic dispute at his home. When police officers arrived they found 36-year-old Lanika Ortega lying in the driveway.

Sentencing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 31.