Crime & Safety

Christmas Eve Beating Death Headed to Trial

Judge finds enough evidence for Antonio Ortiz to face trial in killing of Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa last year in Easton.

A man accused in a deadly beating last Christmas Eve in Easton is headed for trial, according to published reports.

Antonio Ortiz, 33, of the 400 block of Northampton St., is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa.

Police say a fight between the two men on Northampton Street last December 24 led to Ruiz-Avelizapa being knocked out. He never regained consciouness, and died in January.

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In court on Thursday, Senior District Judge James Stocklas ruled there was enough evidence against Ortiz to take the case to Northampton County Court, WFMZ reported.

Police have given this account of what happened:

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Officers responded to the 400 block of Northampton Street just before 1 a.m. December 24 after getting a report that one man had knocked another man unconscious.

They found a man -- late identified as Ruiz-Avelizapa -- on the ground, bleeding from his head. He was taken to Easton Hospital, where doctors determined he had sustained serious injuries.

A witness, Jesse Atkinson told police he had seen an argument between Ortiz and a woman, and saw Ruiz-Avelizapa come in contact with them.

Ortiz swung two punches at Ruiz-Avelizapa, who fell to the ground, the witness said.

“He fell straight down as if he was already knocked out," Atkinson testified Thursday, according to the Express-Times. "The victim was pretty much lifeless, motionless.”

He said he saw Ortiz go to Ruiz-Avelizapa and "manipulate" his clothing.

The woman, identified as Samantha Vega, told police Ortiz knocked Ruiz-Avelizapa to the ground.

Police say Ortiz initially said he had no contact with Ruiz-Avelizapa, but later told investigators Ruiz-Avelizapa had pushed him, and that Ortiz had pushed back.


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