Timothy Virts Agrees To Life Without Parole For Killing Children's Mother
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — The man at the center of the murder and kidnapping case that triggered a massive East Coast Amber alert has struck a deal with prosecutors.
Derek Valcourt has more on the deal and what both sides get out of it.
Timothy Virts admitted in court he murdered the mother of his three children. Bobbi Jo Cortez died in the basement bedroom of her Dundalk home stabbed repeatedly, her mouth bound with duct tape to muffle her screams. By the time one of her children discovered her body, 39-year-old Virts had already kidnapped their 12-year-old daughter, triggering an Amber alert.
Investigators say Virts left Dundalk and traveled to Florence, South Carolina, where a fast-acting motel clerk called 911.
"You know how they put things on Facebook about an Amber alert," the clerk said in a 911 call. "This guy and this girl just registered here at the motel."
In exchange for agreeing to the punishment of life without the possibility of parole, prosecutors agreed to drop several charges against Virts, including charges for the kidnapping and attempted sexual abuse of his own daughter.
WJZ is choosing to no longer identify the young girl; she appeared in court at the plea hearing and told the judge since her mother's murder, she's been haunted by bad dreams. She said, "I really hate him. He used me. He will not be forgiven. Tim will pay for what he did to her and he will rot in jail."
Prosecutors call the plea deal a victory and say it spares the family the agony of a long trial.
"This closure is critical in that they didn't have to testify, they didn't have to sit just feet away from the man who murdered their mother," said Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney Keith Pion. "It's a nice thing; it's a wonderful thing."
Although Virts' plea deal is legally binding, he is set for a formal sentencing hearing on June 19.