A Mysterious Murder : Slaying of Popular Real Estate Agent Has Police Baffled

Ramiro Cortes was a hard-charging, high-profile real estate agent in the San Gabriel Valley.

Known as “Ram” by his friends and associates, Cortes, 46, worked 15-hour days, earned a six-figure income and was one of the top sellers in his Walnut office.

An emotional man, he would embarrass his 20-year-old twin sons with an affectionate kiss and other times scream “fungalo!” to let off steam, business associate Anna Douglas recalled.

“Ram had a temper and a half,” she said.

But the native Filipino, given to living life large, died quietly and mysteriously. After disappearing Sept. 16, his body was found two days later sprawled in a desk chair inside his wife’s locked West Covina medical offices. Only the tiniest amount of blood stained his blue shirt. But underneath, his chest was pierced more than 10 times by a stiletto-like blade.

The slaying baffles authorities. Nearly two weeks later, police have no suspects, no motive and no clues.

“With a lot of victims, we have a handle on what they did 24 hours before they were killed,” West Covina police Detective Lori Smith said. “Their whereabouts before their death is real crucial to the investigation. But (his disappearance) is really hampering the investigation.”

Cortes’ mysterious death has spawned rumors, including that he might have had gambling debts, angering friends and family members, Douglas said.

“Ram was dedicated. . . . He would listen to others, he didn’t think he was an island to himself,” said Douglas, a lender who worked closely with Cortes. “What could he have possibly done to someone to make them do that?”

Although Cortes’ wife, Virgencita, 44, and other family members declined to speak to The Times, associates and police gave a profile of a man well-known and respected in the San Gabriel Valley. His funeral a week ago at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church in Rowland Heights drew more than 200 mourners.

Cortes came to the United States from the Philippines in his early 20s and operated a nurses’ registry in New York City. Through that agency, he met his wife, a medical doctor.

They have three sons, 20-year-old twins who no longer live in the family’s West Covina home, and a 13-year-old, Cliff.

In California, Virgencita Cortes continued her practice, establishing medical offices on Amar Road, and her husband pursued real estate, first in West Covina and later at a Walnut agency.

The real estate agent was proud of his wife and often boasted about his sons, Douglas said. Cortes’ wife wanted to retire soon, and her husband was working hard to provide sufficient income to provide for that, she added.

“He was pretty popular,” real estate colleague David Villamil said. “A lot of times I would present my card and people would say, ‘Oh, you’re Ram’s partner.’ ”

Although his name was known throughout the San Gabriel Valley, Cortes avoided putting his photo on his business cards or in advertisements, a common practice for realtors. Douglas said Cortes was superstitious about the camera “capturing his soul,” while Villamil said the realtor did not think that he was handsome enough to warrant photos. Yet, he was a meticulous dresser, taking great care in his grooming, Douglas said.

Cortes liked to gamble in Las Vegas and Southern California gambling houses, according to police. But his associates discounted speculation that gambling debts may have prompted his murder.

“It would make no sense to me, Ram’s failing to pay a debt,” Douglas said.

Cortes was a stickler for details and was on time to every appointment, she said. He would often work until 11 p.m. and sometimes fell asleep in his chair at the office.

His irregular schedule meant that when he disappeared, his family did not become immediately alarmed, police said.

Cortes was last seen in his bronze-colored 1988 Honda Accord as he dropped Cliff at his wife’s offices at 3:15 p.m. Two days later, when a receptionist unlocked the office at 9:45 a.m., she discovered Cortes’ body.

There was no evidence of a struggle or forced entry, Smith said, although a pile of medical journals had been moved from shelves to a spot in the hallway. The Honda was parked in back of the building, and the car keys were in Cortes’ pocket. His identification and wallet were missing. The murder weapon has not been found.