PORT ST. LUCIE — A woman who police said was killed in a domestic, murder-suicide case was identified Aug. 3 as a communications officer with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Port St. Lucie Police believe Elizabeth Ortega, 50, was fatally shot Aug. 1 by Ralph Varela Sr., also 50, at a home in the 2000 block of Southeast Oxmoor Drive not far from Southeast Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Varela is believed to have fired several shots from a .223-caliber, AR-style rifle, before dying by what police believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Ortega “began her Emergency Communications career with the Greenacres Police Department in November of 2001 and has been a dedicated member of PBSO Emergency Communications since the merger in February of 2016,” according to a social media post by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
“She was a respected and cherished part of our PBSO family, known for her kindness, compassion, and a warm smile that could brighten any room,” the post states.
Her son, Ralph Varela Jr., is a firefighter with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Port St. Lucie Police have stated Varela Sr. and Ortega had been in a relationship for more than 30 years.
Officer Brittany McNally, Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson, said Varela Sr. moved to Port St. Lucie in June 2025, but she did not know how long Ortega lived in Port St. Lucie.
Police reported there were no earlier calls for service to the home related to domestic violence.
“Investigators learned that Ortega had recently ended the relationship,” police stated. “Despite the separation, the two agreed to continue living together temporarily while Varela made arrangements to secure alternate living accommodations.”
Police have said Varela Sr. and Ortega, who died after being taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, lived with their 30-year-old son.
Police reported the son about 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 left to get dinner from a restaurant.
“Investigators have determined there was no known argument or disturbance inside the home prior to his departure,” police stated.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether this 30-year-old son is Varela Jr.
A request made to Port St. Lucie Police regarding this just after 5 p.m. Aug. 3 wasn’t immediately responded to.
Earlier Aug. 3 at the scene on Southeast Oxmoor Terrace several neighbors either did not answer knocks to their front doors or declined comment.
Elizabeth Cassola, 25, however, spoke through a doorbell camera. Cassola said she’s lived in the home for 18 months.
She said in the past she heard what she thought was the sound of a person hitting a woman at the home, but said she was scared to report it.
“The man that was living there, he was always outside,” Cassola said.
A woman at the home, she said, cut the grass and appeared to take steps to keep up the residence.
Cassola, who said she is staying at her mother’s home, said she hasn’t returned to her residence. She said she doesn’t feel safe.
“We saw everything through the Ring camera, the police coming in and running,” Cassola said.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida woman killed in murder-suicide was veteran sheriff’s employee
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
