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Grand Rapids cemetery donates burial plot to Ruby Garcia

Alexa Clemens, the Family Service Manager for Blythefield Memory Gardens, said they're donating a burial plot for Garcia.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A special burial plot has been picked out for Ruby Garcia, the 25-year-old woman killed by her boyfriend last week.

Alexa Clemens, the Family Service Manager for Blythefield Memory Gardens, said they're donating a burial plot for Garcia.

"She's a young woman, she had life ahead of her," said Clemens. "I reached out to the sister just on a public post that she made and let her know, you know, what I do and what we do out here. And I'd be happy to help and get a burial lot gifted to them for Ruby to be laid to rest."

The 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman was found dead on US-131 South last week with gunshot wounds. Michigan State Police currently have 25-year-old Brandon Ortiz-Vite in custody. Court documents say he confessed to killing Garcia and taking her car.

The two were in a romantic relationship, but as of right now, the extent of it is unknown. On Tuesday, Prosecutor Chris Becker said her death was the result of domestic violence.

"This is another case of a domestic violence homicide that we've seen, quite frankly, far too often over the last few years," said Becker.

Ortiz-Vite is currently facing murder and weapons charges. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, he's been in the country illegally since at least 2020.

"Even after all of this passes, they will be still left grieving, the loss and the tragedy that they've gone through," said Becker.

Clemens said she's been speaking with the family, helping them navigate the hurdles that come with laying a loved one to rest. While they are donating a grave site, the Garcias will have to face other expenses as well.

"There's funeral home expenses, there's a memorial expense, there's burial expenses," said Clemens. "And there's a lot of things that go along with when something happens like this, especially unexpectedly."

To Clemens, she hopes those who knew Ruby, or even strangers, will continue to lift the Garcias up.

"I want the community to know about the Garcia family that their story needs to be heard," said Clemens. "The community is behind them, and I want them to know that they're not alone."

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