PORT ST. LUCIE – The woman who Port St. Lucie Police say was killed on Aug. 1 in an apparent murder-suicide was a communications officer with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook posting.
Elizabeth Ortega, 50, was killed by her domestic partner, Ralph Varela Sr., also 50, at about 7:40 p.m., Aug. 1 outside the home they shared in the 2000 block of SE Oxmoor Terrace, Port St. Lucie, according to police reports.
Varela fired as many as 10 rounds from an AR-style .223 caliber rifle, according to police reports.
Varela then went inside the house and it is believed that he fired the gun at himself, dying from the wound.
Ortega was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Varela was found by officers inside the house, having died from the gunshot wound, according to police reports.
Ortega “was a respected and cherished part of our PBSO family, known for her kindness, compassion, and a warm smile that could brighten any room,” according to the social media posting. She had a son, Ralph Varela Jr., who is a firefighter with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, it was noted in the posting.
She started her emergency communications career with the Greenacres Police Department in November 2001 and continued working in that capacity after Greenacres’ police department merged with PBSO’s emergency communications in February 2016, according to the socail media posting.
“Please stand with us in supporting our PBSO and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue family during this time of profound loss. Funeral arrangements are pending,” according to the sheriff’s office social media posting.
Local police have no record of any domestic problems between the couple, Officer Brittany McNally, PSLPD public information officer, said in a press briefing on Aug. 3.
“At this time, detectives have no prior calls to service that they have located,” McNally said.
Investigators learned that Varela and Ortega, involved in a domestic partnership for about 30 years but not married, were in the process of separating, McNally said. Ralph Varela Sr., moved to Port St. Lucie in June 2025, McNally said. It is not clear when Elizabeth Ortega came to Port St. Lucie.
Despite the separation, the two agreed to continue living together temporarily while Varela was making plans to move out, McNally said.
Their adult son, who was living at the house, told detectives that he knew that his parents’ relationship recently ended but did not see any argument or disturbance before leaving the home at about 7:30 p.m. to pick up dinner from a local restaurant. It is unclear whether the adult son is the firefighter with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue
Based on the evidence gathered so far, detectives continue to believe this was an isolated domestic-related murder-suicide. There is no ongoing threat to the public.
“It goes without saying that this incident is tragic and devastating,” McNally said. “Domestic-related incidents are very difficult and acts of violence are devastating in our community.”
“We encourage anybody experiencing domestic violence or who knows of someone who is experiencing domestic violence to ask for help, seek help. If you believe that someone is in immediate danger, call 911. That’s what we’re here for.”
The investigation remains active as detectives continue reviewing evidence and await the final results from the Medical Examiner’s Office.