Harold Michael Ortiz, 44, has been charged with attempted murder and unlawful imprisonment. Authorities say the charges stem from allegedly striking a male victim in the head with a shovel and burying him under several feet of debris. Oritiz was arraigned on Thursday morning. Upon entering court, he claimed he did not know what he was being incarcerated for. He was denied bail. Ortiz was released from state prison on July 10 after serving 17 years for attempted murder. UPDATE - Schenectady Police, in a press conference, confirm that the remains of a female were located in the basement of 1330 Union Street. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning. SCHENECTADY -- Police are investigating after a man was found in a "deteriorated condition" in a Schenectady basement. Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett says authorities were called to the Union Street home to check on the welfare of someone who had not been seen in a few days. When police went inside, they found a man in his 60s in the basement. They say he was dehydrated and incoherent, but alive. Investigators say they do not know why he was in the basement. He was taken to Ellis Hospital for treatment. Officials say they are treating it like a crime scene until they can communicate with the man to find out what exactly happened, and why he was in the basement.
SCHENECTADY - The body found inside a home in Schenectady was identified Friday as Valerie Washington, 55. Her death was ruled a homicide.
It's the same house where a man was found buried alive.
The suspect in that case is under arrest.
Grand jury action is expected by next week.
Forensics investigators spent Friday at the Union Street home going in and out with boxes. Schenectady County District Attorney Bob Carney says there's a lot of evidence to be processed. The holiday weekend will slow things down. But he expects grand jury action in the case by Tuesday.
“Her death has been ruled a homicide. We're not discussing the cause or the time of death,” noted Lt. Mark McCracken of Schenectady Police Department.
Police made the grisly discovery after they found a man in the same house buried alive under several feet of debris. His name was not released. He was taken to Ellis Hospital for treatment.
Police say Harold Ortiz, 44, was the one who hit the man over the head with a shovel and buried him under a toilet, tire and heavy boxes in the basement of the home.
Ortiz was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted murder and unlawful imprisonment. He has not been charged in connection with Washington’s death.
“Obviously we're trying to establish whatever connection there was. We're looking at her timeline, the male victim, whose identity we're still not releasing,” said McCraken.
Meanwhile, NewsChannel 13 has learned Ortiz has a violent past. He got out of prison in July after serving 17 years for attempted murder. A law enforcement source told us he and a some accomplices beat up a former firefighter, bound him and set his Brooklyn home on fire.
Ortiz is originally from downstate. Police would only say that he has family in the area.
“At the time of his arrest, he was listed as homeless. As to what ties he has to what locations, that's also under investigation,” McCracken explained.
Schenectady County District Attorney Bob Carney says Ortiz will likely face more charges. He says he expects a grand jury will convene and take some action on the case before the preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
