PORT WENTWORTH, GA (WTOC) -
Marcos Ortega says he's been dating Jeanifer Segrest for five years. All those years, Ortega knew Segrest as "Jenny Rose", or "Rosie" for short. He had no idea Segrest was wanted by police for allegedly selling her two young daughters for tens of thousands of dollars to a Cobb County man for sex.
"I know she didn't do anything wrong," Ortega said.
After meeting in a store, Ortega says Segrest told him she had three daughters who were not living with her. Segrest told him they were taken away after her sister was accused of selling the girls to the same Cobb County man while Segrest was in jail on felony theft charges. Ortega claims he did not know his girlfriend has been wanted by police for years, and has been featured on "America's Most Wanted" several times, until they got a knock on the door from U.S. Marshals and Port Wentworth Police.
"I was in the room when the police got here and then pulled me on the ground. They didn't ask me any questions."
Segrest was placed in handcuffs and taken to the Port Wentworth Police Department. Ortega was also arrested and charged with misdemeanor drug charges. He later paid the fine and was released.
Police told him the woman he knew as "Rosie" is actually Jeanifer Segrest and she's been on the run from the law. Ortega still believes police have the wrong woman.
He and Segrest have two sons together, ages 3 and 4. They were living with a Port Wentworth woman. That woman suffers from degenerative joint disease and doesn't want to be identified, but says Segrest, Ortega, and their two sons have brought nothing buy joy to her Cantyre Street home.
She said, "Once she came and they were here, I had laughter in my home and I was healing faster."
Ortega's two sons have been removed from the home. He's hoping he will be able to get them back after a hearing on Thursday.
"Why did they take my kids away from me? I don't know anything about whatever happened before."
To read more about Jeanifer Segrest, click here.
Copyright 2012 WTOC. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WTOC, a Raycom Media Station.
