‘Boots’ Reveals How Ochoa Died in Episode 6 of Netflix Show

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In the fifth episode of Netflix’s *Boots*, viewers learned how Eduardo Ochoa met his fate. Ochoa, played by Johnathan Nieves, was a dedicated but anxious soldier who befriended Cameron Cope during their time together. He was deeply in love with his wife, Gloria, and longed to make her proud, but the series took a tragic turn for him in Episode 5.

In episode 5, Ochoa became a central figure after revealing to Cope that he struggled with the idea of taking a life, even as a Marine. The episode also showcased his impressive shooting skills, which led to a phone call with Gloria that dramatically altered his path in the series, *Boots*.

I recently checked out this new series on Netflix called *Boots*, and it’s really something. It’s based on the true story of Greg Cope White, a Marine, told in his memoir *The Pink Marine*. The show follows Cameron Cope and his best friend Ray as they navigate the wild experience of Marine boot camp, but it’s also about Cameron figuring out who he is and dealing with keeping a secret. The cast is great – Miles Heizer and Liam Oh are fantastic, and Vera Farmiga, who you might know from *The Conjuring*, is also in it, along with Max Parker, Ana Ayora, and Dominic Goodman. It dropped on October 9th, 2025, and I definitely recommend giving it a watch!

How Did Ochoa Actually Die In Boots Netflix?

In the latest episode of *Boots*, it was revealed that Ochoa was crying due to chest pain. Cope offered to get him medical attention, but Ochoa dismissed it, saying the pain usually subsides on its own. This was a risky decision, as seeking help for his heart condition could have prevented a serious outcome.

Ochoa excelled at the shooting range during boot camp, achieving the highest score – 242 points – and outperforming all his peers. As a reward, he was allowed to make a phone call to his wife, Gloria. However, the call revealed a painful truth: a man answered the phone, and Ochoa discovered she was being unfaithful.

Ochoa became frustrated and began to challenge his drill sergeant, Howitt. Howitt responded by punishing him with push-ups and other physical exercises, and verbally berated him with harsh language. Unfortunately, Howitt didn’t know about Ochoa’s emotional struggles or what he’d recently learned regarding his wife, and if he had, he likely would have stopped pushing him so hard.

Ochoa’s death in the fifth episode of *Boots* was a result of Howitt’s penalty, combined with Ochoa’s erratic behavior and his dangerous decision to push himself too hard during the performance, which caused him to collapse unexpectedly.

It was so heartbreaking watching Howitt try to save Ochoa with CPR, but it quickly became clear it was too late. Later in *Boots* Episode 6, Sergeant McKinnon revealed that Ochoa actually died from a hidden heart condition – something he hadn’t told anyone in the Corps about. It was just a really sad reveal.

Man, Ochoa’s death really hit me hard. It was just so tragic seeing someone so loyal and devoted completely fall apart after finding out about Gloria’s betrayal. What really got to me, though, was that he never got to say goodbye to his team. Those guys were like family to him, especially after going through boot camp together – he treated them like brothers from the very beginning. It was a really sad ending.

Is Ochoa Based on a Real-Life Person?

Ochoa, a character in the book *Boots*, appears to be inspired by a real person named Pritchett, who was Greg Cope White’s bunkmate. According to *The Pink Marine*, Pritchett joined the Marines specifically to get veteran benefits, as he had a family to support.

Like Ochoa, Pritchett deeply loved his wife, and this caused him anxiety during boot camp as he constantly anticipated letters from her. Pritchett also proved to be as skilled with a weapon as the real person he was based on.

Okay, so let’s talk about Ochoa’s fate in *Boots*. It definitely *looked* like he died in Episode 5, and it was a pretty shocking moment. But here’s the thing: the real story, as told in the memoir, reveals Pritchett actually survived! The show played up the drama, but what really happened was a near-tragedy. He almost took his own life after believing his wife hadn’t been writing to him. Thankfully, it turned out Sergeant Santoro – who the character Sullivan is based on – was just playing a cruel joke, and eventually handed over the letters from his wife. It was a huge emotional rollercoaster, and the show took some liberties with the truth for effect.

The Pink Marine didn’t share any personal information about Pritchett, only mentioning that he shared a bunk with Cope and was in the same platoon.

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2025-10-13 22:48