An illegal immigrant, suspected of murdering a 25-year-old woman from Michigan during a car-jacking gone wrong, is awaiting arraignment on an open murder charge.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, is alleged to have shot and killed Ruby Garcia, whose body was left at the side of highway U.S. 131 in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday night.
Michigan State Police are still carrying out an investigation into her death but believe she may have been the victim of a car-jacking at around 11:38pm on Friday.
Law enforcement have not released any information on Ortiz-Vite but have confirmed that he is now in custody.
Ortiz-Vite was booked on Sunday and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday where he faces one count each of homicide/open murder, carjacking, felony firearm, illegally carrying a concealed weapon, operating while intoxicated, and driving on a suspended or revoked license, records show according to The Midwesterner.
The body of Ruby Garcia was found with gunshot wounds late on Friday night following a suspected car jacking in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, has been charged with the murder of a 25-year-old woman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose body was found on a highway
Garcia’s family are now helping to raise funds for her funeral and have set up a GoFundMe page that has raised $13,000.
Ruby’s sister, Mavi Garcia, paid tribute to her sibling, describing her as ‘a great person all around.’
‘She would brighten up the room with her beautiful smile and laugh,’ Garcia wrote on Facebook. ‘She loved to travel, was dedicated to her work and enjoyed being with her family on her free time.
‘She was a great daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She will be remembered as being full of life and laughter, those who were around her would know she was silly and made everyone laugh,’ Garcia said.
‘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.
‘She loved to travel … she had so many plans this year on traveling,’ Garcia went on. ‘I feel like her motivation in life were my mother and her nieces and nephews. She definitely was a strong person.’
Garcia’s family are now helping to raise funds for her funeral and have set up a GoFundMe page that has raised $13,000
‘She would brighten up the room with her beautiful smile and laugh,’ sister Mavi wrote of Ruby Garcia, pictured. ‘She loved to travel, was dedicated to her work and enjoyed being with her family on her free time
It is not clear what, if any relationship existed between Ruby and Ortiz-Vite, who is originally from Puebla, Mexico.
‘I prefer not to give out information on their relationship,’ Mavi Garcia stated. ‘He is currently in custody that’s all we know as of right now and he is/was here illegally.’
‘I can’t thank you all enough for the big help the Garcia family is receiving in these tough times,’ Garcia posted to Facebook. ‘I just want to say take care of your loved ones. Please be united more as a family even when your world is falling. The only ones that are truly going to be there are your family members.
‘Hope you guys tell your siblings and parents you love them,’ she wrote.