The capital murder trial began Monday of a former U.S. Border Patrol agent who confessed to killing four sex workers in South Texas, telling investigators he wanted to "clean up the streets" of his border hometown.

If convicted of capital murder, Juan David Ortiz, 39, faces life in prison without parole because prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

At the time of his arrest, Ortiz, a Navy veteran, was a Border Patrol intel supervisor. He was arrested in Laredo on Sept. 15, 2018, after Erika Pena escaped from him and asked a state trooper for help. Ortiz pleaded not guilty Monday to capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest.

BORDER PATROL AGENT ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF KILLING 4 WOMEN AND KIDNAPPING A 5TH

"You will see and you will hear, through his own words, how he took each woman to their last resting place, how he executed them," Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz told jurors during opening statements. "You will hear in his own words the indifference, the disrespect, the degradation that he has for these people."

"You will hear the evidence in his own words: ‘I wanted to clean up the streets,’" Alaniz said, adding that Ortiz in Spanish called the women "dirt."

Ortiz is standing trial in San Antonio, in Bexar County, following a defense request to move the trial from Webb County due to extensive media coverage.

Alaniz also said that during the confession, Ortiz told investigators where to find the body of one of his victims.

Ortiz’s attorney, Joel Perez, told jurors in opening statements that investigators had jumped to conclusions, and that his client’s confession was "coerced." He said his client was "broken" and "suicidal" when he made the confession after being questioned for over eight hours. Months earlier, the veteran had been put on "a bunch of psychotic pills" after seeking help when he was unable to sleep and having nightmares, Perez said.

Ortiz told investigators he’d had blackouts as well, Perez said.

"This is a defeated man," Perez said.

Melissa Ramirez, 29, was killed on Sept. 3, 2018, and 42-year-old Claudine Luera was killed on Sept. 13, 2018.

FBI ARRESTS 2 VENEZUELAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR ASSAULT ON BORDER PATROL AGENT IN TEXAS

On Sept. 14, 2018, Ortiz picked up Pena, who told investigators that Ortiz acted oddly when she brought up Ramirez's slaying. Pena testified Monday that she took off running when Ortiz pointed a gun at her in a truck at a gas station, and was crying as she approached a state trooper who was refueling his vehicle.

Ortiz fled and, he later told investigators, picked up and killed his last two victims, 35-year-old Guiselda Alicia Cantu and 28-year-old Janelle Ortiz. Authorities eventually tracked Juan David Ortiz to a hotel parking garage where he was arrested.

Each of his victims was shot in the head and left along rural Laredo-area roads. One died of blunt force trauma after being shot.

"Through the evidence, we will take you … to those last moments of these women’s lives," Alaniz told jurors on Monday.

The Border Patrol placed Ortiz on indefinite, unpaid suspension after his arrest. When asked Monday for an update on his current employment status, a Border Patrol official said the agency doesn't comment on "pending litigation."

Oklahoma City Police have released a dramatic video showing a suspect firing a weapon at three officers after they lifted the mattress he was hiding underneath.

The incident that resulted in the death of Timothy Johnson, whom police say was wanted on an out-of-state felony warrant, happened on Nov. 15 in a rural area. 

Officers in the state’s capital were called to a travel trailer after being told Johnson had been seen entering it and did not come out, according to police. 

Authorities say they then met with Jennifer Garner – a woman who lived there – who told them nobody was inside and gave officers consent to search her home. 

FLORIDA POLICE BODYCAM FOOTAGE SHOWS MOMENT ROBBERY SUSPECT IS SHOT AFTER APPROACHING OFFICER WITH KNIFE 

"Sammy, this is the police department. If you are in here you need to make yourself known," Officer Elisa McCoy is heard saying on bodycam footage released by police, addressing Johnson by his alias. 

While searching the property, the officers eventually lifted a mattress – only to reveal Johnson hiding underneath, armed with a pistol. 

Police say gunfire was then exchanged and two of the officers are seen leaving the trailer to take cover. 

The officers re-entered the trailer shortly afterward, urging Johnson to "come out with your hands up." 

However, more gunfire is exchanged, with one of the officers being struck in the face by flying debris. 

Oklahoma City Police say a tactical unit that was called in later found Johnson deceased. 

Garner was arrested on a complaint of harboring a fugitive, while the three officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.