Name: Adrian Ortiz
Date of Birth: 26th April 1968
Date of Death: 7th December 2007
Adrian Ortiz, the youngest of three boys- Luke, David and Adrian, was born to Karen Ortiz on the 26th April 1968. Karen Ortiz, an ex pro who had a drug problem never spoke to her boys about their father, though each of them had suspicions she didn't know who fathered who. For the first four years of his life Adrian was shoved from place to place along with his siblings, going where ever his mother could find enough work to sustain her drug habit. Originally born on the wrong side of New York as an adult he later found himself settling in LA.
In 1972 at the age of five after a year of living on the streets, social welfare stepped in taking custody of all siblings. Originally all three boys were placed in the same foster home where they stayed for two years until the oldest turned eleven. Luke, the eldest, had a knack for causing trouble and it was more then the foster family at the time could handle. The decision was made to split the boys- Luke moving to a new home, David staying with the current family which left Adrian having to relocate as well.
Over the space of four years Adrian was shipped from foster home to foster home ten times, sometimes only staying at houses for a few short weeks. It was just after Adrian eleventh birthday in 1978 when he received the news of his eldest brother's death. Luke, being the trouble making kid he was, had fallen into a bad crowd and joined a small street gang at just sixteen. A drug hand over gone wrong had left Luke shot in the chest twice, bleeding out within just minutes before help could arrive.
Adrian was rocked by the news, despite the fact he hadn't seen his brother since they had been separated years beforehand. His second eldest brother David, now fourteen, attended Luke's funeral along side him both reconnecting after years apart. The two kept in touch over the following years due to both their foster carers making promises to the boys to keep them in contact with one another.
It wasn't until June 1982 did their contact stop suddenly. Adrian knew immediately that something had happened to his brother. He spent a week begging his foster carers to help him find out what had happened to his eighteen year old brother. It took three weeks and multiple legal channels later to find out the truth- David had been murdered. The middle child, not into violence or joining gangs like his older brother, had been shot dead while walking home. A mugging gone wrong the police statement had said. Adrian fell into a state of depression after the funeral, the once quiet boy falling into a life of small crimes at the young age of fifteen. Adrian turned to drinking and drugs for a small period of time before his carers stepped in giving him his ultimatum- Quit or live on the streets. Knowing he had to change his ways Adrian turned to something else to take his mind off his departed siblings- school.
in 1985 at the age of eighteen Adrian graduated with honours, gaining a scholarship to a small but respectful university in LA. In 1986 making the move, Adrian settled into the area fairly well; meeting new friends and studying duel degrees in accounting and law at the university. it was there he gained a part-time job, making just enough to pay the bills and save a bit for a rainy day.
1987 at age twenty in his second year at the university Adrian met Maria Santos; a beautiful woman who had just transferred to the area. Originally born in the Dominican Republic but migrating to the States for an education Maria studied nursing and became instant friends with Adrian. Adrian was smitten with Maria, fallen head over heels in love with her at first sight but maria wasn't interested. She had a low key romance blooming with a fellow nursing student and Adrian was forced to wait in the wings until his time came along.
His time finally came three years later in 1990 when Joe, Maria's on-again off-again boyfriend finally broke things off for good. Despite what Adrian saw Maria and Joe's relationship as he was pleasantly surprised to find out that they're problems had always been centred around himself. Maria finally admitted to her feelings to Adrian and the two started dating at age twenty three.
It was just a few short years later in 1992 when Maria unexpectedly fell pregnant. In fear of what Maria's family would do or say and Adrian's fear of her leaving the country once more Adrian proposed, promising to take care of them both. The two married a month later on May 26th leaving family and friends wondering why the quick ceremony but neither would reveal the truth. When Maria's pregnancy was finally announced they lied and told everyone she was two months earlier then she actually was. No one suspected anything different and it was a relief for the young couple.
On December 15th 1992 at age twenty five and twenty four, the couple welcomed their baby girl- Leticia Maree Ortiz, affectionately nicknamed Letty.
The stress of having a family to support meant that Adrian dropped out his final year of university leaving his degree unfinished in order to obtain a full time job to support his small family. Maria continued her education via correspondence as well as a small part time job when Adrian wasn't working.
Maria graduated a few years later, gaining a job at the local hospital that allowed her to work during school hours. Adrian, having given up altogether on his business/ law degree worked as a small time mechanic. In 1998 by the time Letty turned six, Maria and Adrian decided to move to a new area that was closer to Letty's new school. The two storey house located in Echo Park was small but enough for just the three of them, Maria and Adrian having agreed not long after Letty's birth not to have any more children.
It was then that the pair met their neighbours, the Toretto's. They were a small family, one boy named Dominic who was older then Letty by three years and a little girl named Mia who was three years younger. The two girls hit it off despite the age difference, Letty protective of the little girl much to the delight of their parents. Dom however didn't like her hanging around him while Letty liked to follow him around everywhere. Maria and Isabella, who was suffering with cancer at the time, liked to joke there may be something between Letty and Dom in the future. Adrian would often shoot them down not liking the idea of his little girl dating any time soon.
After Isabella's death in 1998 Maria and Adrian became surrogates for the two Toretto children, doting on them as much as they did with Letty. Admittedly though Adrian still wasn't keen on the idea of Dominic hanging around his daughter, convinced it wouldn't lead them to anything good as he got older.
The years seemed to pass by slowly for the family of three, all settling into life at their new home. It wasn't until 2002 that things started to change. The garage that Adrian was working at closed down suddenly due to finances, leaving Adrian without a job. Not one to worry much Adrian spent the following months searching for a job, even going to Tony in the hopes he could help. Tony, who was running the shop by himself as it was couldn't afford another mechanic and Adrian was forced to continue looking.
By the end of 2002 Adrian still hadn't found a job and interviews were few and far between. Though the small family could survive well enough on Maria's weekly wage he felt like a failure. Not able to support his family the way he wanted to Adrian sunk into a deep depression, reverting slowly back into his teenage ways by drinking.
By 2004 Adrian had hit an all time low. Having been two years since he'd had a job, not to mention he'd convinced himself Maria was cheating on him with Tony, Adrian started to lash out. Threatening Maria had just been the start but it soon escalated to violence. Towards the end of 2007 Maria had had enough and with help from Tony she'd organised to leave him. Adrian's wake up call had come while being completely sober- He'd hit his daughter. Knowing things had to change if he wanted to save his relationship he agreed to go to rehab and get help, begging Letty for forgiveness.
His promise to remain sober last just a few hours. The need for a drink became too much for Adrian and he checked himself out of rehab just hours after Tony had checked him in. Drunk and desperate to his family he borrowed a car and started the four hour drive back to Echo Park. Adrian never made it back to LA having lost control of his vehicle due to drink driving. He crashed into an oncoming car, killing both passengers and himself in the process.
Adrian died on the 7th December 2007.