Family ‘very disappointed’ with no charges for Orlando officer in crash that killed 92-year-old matriarch

The family of a 92-year-old woman killed in a crash with an Orlando police officer in January is speaking only with WESH 2 Investigates about the decision by the State Attorney’s Office to not charge the officer with vehicular homicide. “We are very, very disappointed,” said Judy Santiago, the youngest daughter of Milagros Ortiz. Ortiz loved dancing, her weekly bingo games, and most of all, being around her three children, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. “That was from her pride and joy,” Santiago said. Ortiz died from her injuries after an early morning crash with a marked Orlando police vehicle that stopped at a red light but then drove through it. “They are here to protect and serve us,” Santiago said. “Not saying that he did it maliciously, but still there has to be accountability.” The initial crash report found Officer Andrw McKuhen was at fault for failure to yield the right of way at Hoffner Avenue and Semoran Boulevard. “The accident report, it said that the case was closed, and it was until you, well, my daughter called you, my daughter contacted you, and it was then that you came, and when you brought this out to the light,” Santiago said of WESH 2 Investigates’ first report on this deadly crash. Prosecutors decided in late April to not charge McKuhen because they said the evidence didn’t establish the officer struck the Jeep carrying Ortiz in a reckless manner. State Attorney Monique Worrell’s office sent WESH 2 Investigates a statement explaining the decision: “That charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant operated a motor vehicle with reckless disregard — defined under Florida law as willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The evidence shows that Officer McKuhen was on duty, had observed a vehicle commit an illegal U-turn, activated his emergency lights upon entering the intersection, and proceeded with caution. Physical data from his vehicle’s Electronic Data Recorder confirms his speed remained below 20 miles per hour until two seconds before impact. The evidence further indicates that the emergency lights may have experienced a mechanical failure mid-intersection, consistent with a documented history of maintenance issues on that specific vehicle, and that there is no evidence he intentionally deactivated them. No evidence establishes that he drove with the willful or wanton disregard Florida law requires for criminal liability. A crash report finding of fault, or a failure to yield the right of way, does not constitute reckless driving under Florida law.” Santiago said on Tuesday it is not true that the State Attorney’s Office attempted to contact her family. She also said to this day, nobody from the Orlando Police Department has reached out to them. “We reached out to both the surviving victim and the family of Ms. Ortiz to ensure they knew of our review and to give them the opportunity to be heard,” the statement from Worrell’s office said. “To date, we have only been able to make contact through legal counsel representing the surviving victim. We have not yet been able to reach Ms. Ortiz’s family directly — and that matters deeply to us. We will not stop trying. We urge them to contact this Office. They deserve to hear our findings from us, directly and personally — not through press releases or secondhand accounts.” Ortiz’ loved ones found out about this major development last Thursday after WESH 2 Investigates called Santiago. The case disposition memo is dated April 27. “You called me and asked me how my day was going, and I told you that day was a good day, and then you had to bear the bad news of this charging report, and I just turned my day upside down,” Santiago said. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing Ortiz’s family. He also reacted to the news of no charges for the Orlando police officer. “It’s outrageous conduct that led to the death of a beautiful grandmother,” Crump said. Crump told WESH 2 Investigates he’s filed a notice of intent to sue the Orlando Police Department. “This should be heartbreaking for all of Orlando, Florida, because there seems to be a pattern and practice of police officers with that department having traffic violations, where people get seriously injured or killed, and everybody seems to turn a blind eye,” Crump said, referencing the death of Gerald Neal at the end of an unauthorized pursuit in February 2025. As Santiago is holding on to the many fond memories with her mother, she said she’s not sure whether her family will ever be the same. “The Ortiz family is broken,” she said. “Our hearts are broken. They have not been able to mend yet. How long will it take? I don’t know, if ever.” Ortiz also got to meet two great-great grandchildren. A third was born and named in her memory after she passed away. Orlando police’s public information officer said in an email on Friday the department supported the decision by the SAO to close this case with no charges. An internal affairs investigation — and whether Officer McKuhen faces any discipline — is still pending.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

The family of a 92-year-old woman killed in a crash with an Orlando police officer in January is speaking only with WESH 2 Investigates about the decision by the State Attorney’s Office to not charge the officer with vehicular homicide.

“We are very, very disappointed,” said Judy Santiago, the youngest daughter of Milagros Ortiz.

Ortiz loved dancing, her weekly bingo games, and most of all, being around her three children, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

“That was from her pride and joy,” Santiago said.

Ortiz died from her injuries after an early morning crash with a marked Orlando police vehicle that stopped at a red light but then drove through it.

“They are here to protect and serve us,” Santiago said. “Not saying that he did it maliciously, but still there has to be accountability.”

The initial crash report found Officer Andrw McKuhen was at fault for failure to yield the right of way at Hoffner Avenue and Semoran Boulevard.

“The accident report, it said that the case was closed, and it was until you, well, my daughter called you, my daughter contacted you, and it was then that you came, and when you brought this out to the light,” Santiago said of WESH 2 Investigates’ first report on this deadly crash.

Prosecutors decided in late April to not charge McKuhen because they said the evidence didn’t establish the officer struck the Jeep carrying Ortiz in a reckless manner.

State Attorney Monique Worrell’s office sent WESH 2 Investigates a statement explaining the decision:

“That charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant operated a motor vehicle with reckless disregard — defined under Florida law as willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The evidence shows that Officer McKuhen was on duty, had observed a vehicle commit an illegal U-turn, activated his emergency lights upon entering the intersection, and proceeded with caution. Physical data from his vehicle’s Electronic Data Recorder confirms his speed remained below 20 miles per hour until two seconds before impact. The evidence further indicates that the emergency lights may have experienced a mechanical failure mid-intersection, consistent with a documented history of maintenance issues on that specific vehicle, and that there is no evidence he intentionally deactivated them. No evidence establishes that he drove with the willful or wanton disregard Florida law requires for criminal liability. A crash report finding of fault, or a failure to yield the right of way, does not constitute reckless driving under Florida law.”

Santiago said on Tuesday it is not true that the State Attorney’s Office attempted to contact her family. She also said to this day, nobody from the Orlando Police Department has reached out to them.

“We reached out to both the surviving victim and the family of Ms. Ortiz to ensure they knew of our review and to give them the opportunity to be heard,” the statement from Worrell’s office said. “To date, we have only been able to make contact through legal counsel representing the surviving victim. We have not yet been able to reach Ms. Ortiz’s family directly — and that matters deeply to us. We will not stop trying. We urge them to contact this Office. They deserve to hear our findings from us, directly and personally — not through press releases or secondhand accounts.”

Ortiz’ loved ones found out about this major development last Thursday after WESH 2 Investigates called Santiago. The case disposition memo is dated April 27.

“You called me and asked me how my day was going, and I told you that day was a good day, and then you had to bear the bad news of this charging report, and I just turned my day upside down,” Santiago said.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing Ortiz’s family. He also reacted to the news of no charges for the Orlando police officer.

“It’s outrageous conduct that led to the death of a beautiful grandmother,” Crump said.

Crump told WESH 2 Investigates he’s filed a notice of intent to sue the Orlando Police Department.

“This should be heartbreaking for all of Orlando, Florida, because there seems to be a pattern and practice of police officers with that department having traffic violations, where people get seriously injured or killed, and everybody seems to turn a blind eye,” Crump said, referencing the death of Gerald Neal at the end of an unauthorized pursuit in February 2025.

As Santiago is holding on to the many fond memories with her mother, she said she’s not sure whether her family will ever be the same.

“The Ortiz family is broken,” she said. “Our hearts are broken. They have not been able to mend yet. How long will it take? I don’t know, if ever.”

Ortiz also got to meet two great-great grandchildren. A third was born and named in her memory after she passed away.

Orlando police’s public information officer said in an email on Friday the department supported the decision by the SAO to close this case with no charges.

An internal affairs investigation — and whether Officer McKuhen faces any discipline — is still pending.