GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Investigators with the Michigan State Police and Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker now have a better idea of the relationship between 25-year-old Ruby Garcia, who was found dead on US-131 in Grand Rapids Friday night, and Brandon Ortiz-Vite, the 25-year-old who has now confessed to killing her.
"Through the investigation is apparent that he and the victim Ruby were in a romantic relationship," Becker said.
According to Ortiz-Vite's probable cause affidavit, he confessed to shooting Garcia multiple times in her car before leaving her for dead on the busy highway. An ICE spokesperson said Ortiz-Vite is from Mexico, and he was previously deported in 2020. At some point, he reentered the United States.
He faces charges of felony murder, open murder, carjacking and weapons charges. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, he's been in the country illegally.
Garcia's family told authorities that she and Ortiz-Vite had been in a relationship. Ortiz-Vite said in his confession that the two were fighting the night he killed her.
"This is another case of a domestic violence homicide that we've seen, quite frankly, far too often over the last few years," Becker said.
During Becker's press conference, he mentioned resources available to women who may be in similar situations.
"Puertas Abriertas is a local organization dealing with domestic violence for Hispanic women," Becker said.
Andrea Inostroza founded the Grand Rapids organization that helps Latina women, like Garcia, escape dangerous situations. They serve around 1,500 clients across West Michigan.
"It's a very underserved population," said Inostroza.
The entire staff, including Zandra Vazquez and Julieta Tornes, is bilingual and can help women and families relocate, provide food and clothing, get personal protection orders and anything from major to minor needs.
"Especially with Hispanic community, because it's our culture, we're always going to be very, very private. And we're not ones to talk about what's going on at home," said Tornes.
Garcia's sister, Mavi, had said recently she was familiar with Ortiz-Vite. However she added Garcia too was a private person.
"Not sure why somebody would think to do that to my sister, especially if you know it was somebody close to her and wanting to build a relationship," said Mavi.
Hearing the news about Garcia's death, Tornes said it shows that they still have people to help in Grand Rapids.
"It's heartbroken to know that someone from our community, you know, went through this," said Tornes. "And also as affirmation for us, we need to keep reaching out people, we need to keep educating people about domestic violence."
While Puertas Abiertas is a resource for Hispanic women, they'll help anyone who is in an abusive relationship or a victim of human trafficking no matter their race, gender or age.
Their 24-hour emergency number is 616-690-8267.
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