LOWELL, Mich. — A trial will be held for the man accused of killing 25-year-old Ruby Garcia back in March, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite is charged with felony murder, open murder, carjacking and two weapons charges in Garcia's death.
On March 22, the body of Ruby Garcia was found on US-131 around 11:35 p.m. She had reportedly been shot multiple times and left along the freeway.
Investigators later found Garcia's car in a residential area north of the South Haven area. The car had bullet holes and suspected blood stains inside.
Two days after Garcia's death, Ortiz-Vite called 911 from a church in Allegan County and confessed to killing her, leaving her body and taking her car.
It was later released that Ortiz-Vite had been in the country illegally since he was a child. He was previously approved for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and was deported in 2020. It is not clear when he reentered the U.S.
Ortiz-Vite appeared in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, where witnesses, law enforcement and Ortiz-Vite's roommate testified.
The forensic pathologist who handled Garcia's case said she had been shot four times, including in the hand and the head. She also had multiple bruises that were fresh, he said.
Testimony from Det. Sgt. Aaron Tubergen with the Michigan State Police, who spoke with Ortiz-Vite after he turned himself in, shed more light on the events leading up to Garcia's death.
Tubergen said Ortiz-Vite and Garcia had been in a relationship. On the day of the shooting, the two had met to talk about their relationship. Tubergen said Ortiz-Vite had believed Garcia was breaking up with him after getting into an argument in her car.
When Garcia began to drive Ortiz-Vite home, he allegedly pulled on the steering wheel multiple times to get her to pull over. When she parked along US-131, Garcia reportedly told Ortiz-Vite to get out of her car.
"It was apparent to him that you're not supposed to walk on the freeway...It's common knowledge for him that there's law enforcement stationed on the freeway quite often," Tubergen testified. "He commented on his own immigration status and was worried about having contact with law enforcement."
Ortiz-Vite asked Garcia to drop him off somewhere, Tubergen said, and when she took out her phone, Ortiz-Vite thought she was calling the police. He allegedly attempted to get the phone from her and a physical fight between the two began.
"She hit him, he hit her back. He was unable to pull the phone from her, and during that altercation, he remembered that he had his handgun with him," Tubergen said. "I believe he said it was instinct that he then reached for the gun and then shot her multiple times from inside the vehicle."
Ortiz-Vite then got out of the car and walked around to the driver's side, Tubergen said. When he saw Garcia's hands were still moving, he fired one final shot. Tubergen said Ortiz-Vite then moved her from the car, got in and drove away.
A witness who testified Wednesday said he was driving on US-131 at the time and saw Ortiz-Vite drive off from the scene, saying it looked "like the vehicle drove over something" as it sped off.
The case was bound over to circuit court. Ortiz-Vite's arraignment was waived.
Garcia has been remembered as a loving, funny person who could brighten any room.
"Ruby's love for plants and traveling came nothing close to her affectionate smile that illuminated the room or contagious laughter that recreated the atmosphere," reads her obituary. "She cared so deeply for the people around her—so kind and passionate. She's made an impact on many lives. She will be forever missed."
Garcia was laid to rest in March. You can read Ruby's obituary here.
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