Santa Barbara Man Sentenced for Fatal 2019 Stabbing

By the Santa Barbara County District Attorney

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch announced [Wednesday] that Igor Ortiz, a 22 year-old Santa Barbara resident, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the willful, premeditated and deliberate first-degree murder of Alberto Torres that occurred on June 1, 2019.

Today’s sentencing is a result of Defendant Ortiz’s plea on December 28, 2022 where he pled guilty to one count of first-degree murder, admitted that he used a knife in the commission of the murder of Alberto Torres, and committed the murder in association with members of the Westside criminal street gang for the benefit of the Westside gang.

The defendant was held accountable in this case due to the outstanding investigative work, dedication and corroboration between the Santa Barbara Police Department and the prosecution team led by Senior Deputy District Attorney Tate McCallister.

June 1, 2019: