Mother of Lorain County Jail stabbing victim comes forward with questions

ELYRIA, Ohio (WOIO) - Officials say an inmate stabbed earlier in the month is back in jail after his release from a hospital, but the victim’s mother is coming forward with questions.

“I got a lot of questions,” said Shontia Howard.

On October 2, Eddie Ortiz stabbed another inmate at the Lorain County Jail.

Detective Lt. Robert Vansant says Ortiz stole a pair of pliers from a maintenance cart days prior, using them as the weapon in the attack.

Ortiz stabbed the victim in the head, neck, and stomach.

Howard says she has worked in the corrections world for five years and wants to know how this happened.

“You have the maintenance, and you have the corrections officer, but he’s able to reach out and take something off the cart?” Questioned Howard. “We keep track of tools. We keep a log of intake tools when we start our shift, we take our name and date, and whatever tools we use when we finish with that tool, we have to log it back in.”

Vansant says an administrative is still being conducted, reviewing camera footage and working on whether policies need to change following the attack.

He adds both are back in the Lorain County Jail but on a “separation list,” which will ensure they do not come in contact again.

Howard still has concerns.

“I just don’t trust them doing the investigation because they dropped the ball big time,” said Howard.

Ortiz is charged with felonious assault, attempt to commit murder, illegal conveyance, and possessing criminal tools.

He was arraigned in Elyria Municipal Court on Wednesday, and his bond was set at $160,000.

The victim’s name was not released, and Howard chose not to release his name either.

Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved.