25-year-old woman found shot dead on road, Michigan cops say. ‘Deserved to live life’
UPDATE: Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, has been charged with felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in connection to the death of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia, Michigan State Police said in a March 26 news release.
Ortiz-Vite and Garcia were in a “romantic relationship,” Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said at a news conference recorded by WXMI.
On Sunday, March 24, Allegan County 911 received a call from Ortiz-Vite who said he wanted to turn himself in, according to Michigan State Police and court records cited by WZZM.
Ortiz-Vite was taken into custody and booked in the Kent County Jail, police said.
“Brandon confessed to shooting Ruby multiple times during an argument while inside her vehicle,” before removing her body and driving away, WOTV reported, citing court documents.
Federal officials said Ortiz-Vite, a citizen of Mexico, was deported from the U.S. in 2020 following a drunk driving arrest but returned illegally, the station reported.
Ortiz-Vite is being held without bond.
The original story is below.
A 25-year-old woman described as a “great person all around” was discovered shot and killed along a Michigan roadway, according to state police and news reports.
The woman, identified by family as Ruby Garcia, was found with gunshot wounds on a Grand Rapids road late Friday, March 22, according to Michigan State Police. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police did not say the circumstances that led to Garcia being shot.
“She was a great daughter, sister, aunt and friend,” Mavi Garcia told WXMI of her sister. “She will be remembered as being full of life and laughter. Those who were around her (knew) she was silly and made everyone laugh. Her loss has impacted the lives of many people. Her life was taken too soon. She deserved to live life, travel the world, have kids and follow her dreams.”
State police said Sunday, March 24, the investigation remained “very active.” Authorities announced later in the day a person of interest had been taken into custody.
Officials said charges would be announced in the afternoon of March 26.
Mavi Garcia described her sister as a “great person all around” who would “brighten up the room with her beautiful smile,” WZZM reported.
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 2:12 PM with the headline "25-year-old woman found shot dead on road, Michigan cops say. ‘Deserved to live life’."
