On the night of February 9, 2022, the life of a 50-year-old Hispanic female named Bernadette Ortiz was brought to a tragic and violent end in her Providence, Rhode Island home. A mother and grandmother, Bernadette was known for being a light in the lives of those who knew her, a self-made woman with a heart of gold. That evening, however, her home on Harold Street became the scene of a fatal domestic dispute.
Around 10:30 p.m., Bernadette's 35-year-old ex-boyfriend, Derek Sheppard, who
had been staying at the apartment with her and his two young daughters, engaged in a heated argument with her. When Bernadette asked him to leave, the confrontation escalated. Sheppard produced a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun and shot her multiple times, ending her life in a second-floor bedroom. The sound of gunshots prompted neighbors to call emergency services, but by the time police arrived, Bernadette was already gone.
Immediately following the shooting, Derek Sheppard fled the scene in his car, sparking a multi-state manhunt. Providence Police quickly identified him as the suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of murder and other weapons offenses. Investigators determined that he had left Rhode Island, and an alert was issued for his vehicle. Using license plate reader technology, law enforcement tracked his movements. Two days later, on the afternoon of February 11, 2022, Sheppard was located and apprehended by police in Pooler, Georgia. At the time of his arrest, he informed officers that there was a gun in his vehicle, which was later confirmed to be the weapon used in the murder.
In August 2023, Derek Sheppard pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. For taking the life of Bernadette Ortiz, a woman who had once welcomed him into her family, he was sentenced to serve life in prison with a consecutive 10-year suspended sentence. The resolution brought a measure of justice to the family of Bernadette, who was remembered as an amazing mother and caregiver whose life was cut short by senseless violence. She left behind her four children and nine grandchildren.
