GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — A man is facing five charges in connection to the shooting death of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia on the night of March 22.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, admitted to shooting Garcia multiple times in her car and then leaving her for dead on US-131. He turned himself in days later with blood on his clothes, court documents detail.
"This is another case of a domestic violence homicide that we've seen, quite frankly, far too often over the last few years," said Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker.
Ortiz-Vite faces felony murder, open murder, carjacking and two weapons charges.
He was in the United States illegally, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. An ICE spokesperson said Ortiz-Vite is from Mexico, and he was previously deported in 2020. At some point, he reentered the United States.
According to a probable cause document filed in the case, a Kent County Sheriff's Department lieutenant discovered Garcia's body around 11:35 p.m. on Friday, March 22. The lieutenant was traveling southbound near Leonard Street. The freeway was closed for several hours while MSP completed an investigation.
While investigating, detectives found that Garcia was the owner of a red 2023 Mazda 3. Detectives had found small particles of suspected red paint near Garcia's body. Investigators spoke to Garcia's family and found that her vehicle was missing. They suspected her killer also stole her vehicle.
Garcia's family told detectives that Garcia had been in a relationship with Brandon Ortiz-Vite.
While on the scene of the accident, detectives found Garcia's phone. Going through her phone they found texts between her and Ortiz-Vite where the two had agreed to meet the night she was killed, just an hour before investigators say it happened.
Investigators found Garcia's car in a residential area north of the South Haven area on March 23. The car had bullet holes and suspected blood stains inside.
On March 24, Ortiz-Vite called Allegan County 911. He told them he wanted to turn himself in. Police found him with what they believed to be blood on his clothes. He was detained and questioned.
Ortiz-Vite confessed to shooting Garcia multiple times while in the vehicle after an argument. He told investigators he then exited the vehicle and walked around to the driver's side. He shot her again before removing her body from the vehicle. He said he then drove the car away from the scene before abandoning it.
Upon being picked up by police, Ortiz-Vite had a firearm on him. He told them it was the gun he used to kill Garcia and that he had purchased it illegally. Investigators said there was a red substance on the gun they believed to be blood.
On Sunday, MSP announced that they had taken a person of interest into custody. On Monday, Brandon Ortiz-Vite was arraigned on unrelated charges dating back to 2020.
Ortiz-Vite had a bench warrant issued at the end of 2020 for not appearing in court after he was suspected of drunk driving and driving with a suspended license.
Ortiz-Vite had previous run-ins with law enforcement in West Michigan, including a charge of illegal entry without owner’s permission in Wyoming in 2018 and a charge of driving while unlicensed in 2017.
"We don't want to see this happen, this is the ultimate, worst-case domestic violence scenario," Becker said.
Ortiz-Vite is currently being held in the Kent County Jail.
He was arraigned Tuesday and was not given a bond. Becker said Ortiz-Vite faces one count of felony murder with a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole, one count of open murder charges with a maximum penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole, one count of carjacking also with a maximum of life in prison, one felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon with a maximum of five years in prison and one count of felony firearm, or the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, with a two year maximum penalty.
Family are remembering Garcia as a beloved member of the family, who would brighten up the room with her smile.
"There are organizations you can go to to get help," Becker said. "You can't break the cycle without getting help."
If you or someone you know is in an unsafe relationship and need help, know there are resources available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 800-799-7233. You can also text START to 88788.
Puertas Abiertas is an organization that serves Latina women and their children in Kent County.
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