In the early hours of a summer night in Denver, Colorado, a life was tragically cut short. Just after midnight on July 19, 1973, police responded to a report of a shooting in the vicinity of West 34th Avenue and Mariposa Street. There, in the street across from the Mambo Night Club, they found 35-year-old Frank Ortega suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
Frank Ortega, a Hispanic male, became the victim of an unsolved homicide that continues to linger in the cold case files of the Denver Police Department. The investigation into the shooting began immediately, but the person or persons responsible for his death were never brought to justice. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, and the motive behind the violent act is unknown.
Decades later, the case of Frank Ortega's murder remains open. The Denver Police Department's Cold Case Unit continues to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough. They are hoping that someone with knowledge of the events of that night will come forward and provide the missing pieces of the puzzle that could finally lead to the arrest and prosecution of the individual or individuals responsible for his death. A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for any information that could help solve this long-standing mystery and bring a measure of closure to the family and friends of Frank Ortega.
