An illegal immigrant suspected of killing a 25-year-old Michigan woman during a botched carjacking is awaiting arraignment on an open murder charge.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, allegedly shot and killed Ruby Garcia, whose body was found along the US 131 freeway in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday evening.
Michigan State Police are still investigating her death, but believe she was the victim of a carjacking on Friday around 11:38 p.m.
Law enforcement officials have not released any information about Ortiz-Vite but have confirmed he is now in custody.
Ortiz-Vite was booked Sunday and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, where he faces one count each of murder/open murder, carjacking, firearms, illegal carrying of a concealed weapon, operating while intoxicated and driving with a suspended or revoked license. , data shows according to The Midwesterner.
Ruby Garcia’s body was found with gunshot wounds late Friday evening after a suspected car hijacking in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, has been charged with the murder of a 25-year-old Grand Rapids, Michigan woman whose body was found on a highway
Garcia’s family is now helping to raise money for her funeral and has a GoFundMe page that raised $13,000.
Ruby’s sister, Mavi Garcia, paid tribute to her sibling, describing her as “an amazing person in every way.”
“She would light up the room with her beautiful smile and laugh,” Garcia wrote on Facebook. “She loved to travel, was dedicated to her work and enjoyed spending her free time with her family.
“She was a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt and friend. “She will be remembered as someone full of life and laughter, those who were around her would know she was crazy and made everyone laugh,” Garcia said.
‘Her loss has affected the lives of many people. Her life was taken too soon. She deserved to live, travel the world, have children and follow her dreams.
“She loved to travel…she had so many travel plans this year,” Garcia continued. “I feel like her motivation in life was my mother and her nieces and nephews. She was definitely a strong person.”
Garcia’s family is now helping to raise money for her funeral and has set up a GoFundMe page that has raised $13,000
“She brightened 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 spending her free time with her family
It is not clear if there was a relationship between Ruby and Ortiz-Vite, who is originally from Puebla, Mexico.
“I prefer not to give any information about their relationship,” Mavi Garcia said. “He is currently in custody, that’s all we know right now, and he is/was here illegally.”
“I cannot thank you all enough for the great help the Garcia family is receiving during these difficult times,” Garcia wrote on Facebook. ‘I just want to say: take care of your loved ones. Please be more united as a family even as your world falls apart. The only ones who will really be there are your family members.
“I hope you tell your siblings and parents you love them,” she wrote.