A Mexican migrant living illegally in the United States was detained and charged with murder on Sunday in connection with the death of his girlfriend in Michigan, according to authorities.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, acknowledged killing Ruby Garcia, 25, with an illegally bought firearm, according to court records. He and Garcia were dating, according to the paperwork.
According to officials, Ortiz-Vite, who was in the United States illegally, is facing five felony charges, including murder and carjacking. Ortiz-Vite allegedly shot Garcia numerous times following an altercation on Friday, leaving her dead on the side of the expressway and driving away in Garcia’s 2023 Mazda before abandoning it, according to court records.
In court filings, investigators stated that Garcia looked to have been run over as well as shot.
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“(Ortiz-Vite) stated that once she appeared to be deceased, he unbuckled her seatbelt and removed her from the vehicle,” a detective wrote in court documents. “He then stated he drove her vehicle away from the scene.”
Her automobile was recovered on Saturday in the South Haven neighborhood. “It had damage believed to be bullet holes with suspected blood stains inside,” the docs state.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, acknowledged to killing Ruby Garcia, 25, with an illegally bought firearm, according to court records. He is facing five felony accusations, including murder and carjacking.
According to court records, Ortiz-Vite called Allegan County 911 on Sunday and stated that he wished to surrender to the police. He was arrested at a church, according to sources.
According to court records, police seized a 9 mm handgun that Ortiz-Vite claimed he had obtained illegally. Police confirmed the two were in a relationship and ruled Garcia’s murder a domestic violence homicide.
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Ortiz-Vite has had many run-ins with the law since 2017, including drunk driving and unauthorized entrance into a property. He was deported in 2020 after being arrested for drunk driving, federal officials said on Tuesday. However, it is unclear when he returned to the United States.
Garcia’s family and friends remember her for “being full of life and laughter.”
“It’s nerve-wracking. I don’t know why he did that to my sister. I wish she just would’ve never gone out that night,” Garcia’s sister Mavi said. “She was a good person, she didn’t hurt anybody. She never tried to hurt anybody’s feelings either. She was a good person, I just don’t understand. I guess it was just God’s plan, you know?”
Ortiz-Vite’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 9.