On Oct. 28 local artist Chris Ortega was found dead in his home. According to an Asheville Police Department spokesperson, Ortega’s death “is suspicious, and we are continuing to investigate.” Contrary to some rumors, police have not yet ruled his death a homicide.
The APD also noted that the department has no further information to release at this time.
The official incident report states only that Ortega, an illustrator whose work was featured in several local galleries and around the community, was found dead in his home midday on Oct. 28, and that he was last seen late in the afternoon Oct. 26. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the APD at 252-1110.
Thanks for reading through to the end…
We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.
We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.