The illegal immigrant suspected of killing a 25-year-old Michigan woman was deported during the Trump administration and subsequently re-entered the country illegally.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, allegedly shot and killed Ruby Garcia, 25, whose body was dumped on the side of US Highway 131 in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday night.
Michigan State Police are still conducting an investigation into his death, but believe he may have been the victim of a carjacking around 11:38 p.m. Friday.
Ortiz-Vite is awaiting arraignment on an open charge of murder. He was reprimanded on Sunday and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday.
The defendant faces one count each of manslaughter/open murder, auto theft, felony firearm, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, operating while intoxicated and driving with a suspended or revoked license, records show. The Midwest reports.
Ruby Garcia’s body was found with gunshot wounds Friday night following an alleged carjacking in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Fox News Digital reports that the alleged killer was previously ‘arrested by Detroit Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) on August 31, 2020 and served a notice to appear.
“An immigration judge with the Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) ordered him deported on September 24, 2020, and he was deported to Mexico on September 29, 2020,” according to an ICE spokesperson.
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.
“On an unknown date and location, Ortiz-Vite re-entered the United States without inspection by an immigration officer.”
Following his arrest for murder last week, an arrest warrant was filed against the illegal migrant from Mexico.
Garcia’s family is now helping raise funds for his funeral and has created a GoFundMe page that has raised $15,000.
Ruby’s sister Mavi Garcia paid tribute to her sister, describing her as “an all around great person”.
“She brightened the room with her beautiful smile and laugh,” Garcia wrote on Facebook. She loved to travel, she was dedicated to her work and she enjoyed being with her family in her free time.
‘She was a great daughter, sister, aunt and friend. “She will be remembered as full of life and laughter, those around her would know that she was silly and she made everyone laugh,” Garcia said.
‘His loss has impacted the lives of many people. His life was taken too soon. She deserved to live life, travel the world, have children and follow her dreams.
“He loved to travel…he had a lot of plans to travel this year,” Garcia continued. ‘I feel that her motivation in life was my mother and her nieces and nephews. She definitely was a strong person.’
Garcia’s family is now helping raise funds for his funeral and has created 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, she was dedicated to her work and enjoyed being with her family in her free time.
It is unclear what relationship, if any, existed between Ruby and Ortiz-Vite, who is originally from Puebla, Mexico.
“I prefer not to give information about their relationship,” said Mavi García. “She is currently in custody, that’s all we know so far and she is/was here illegally.”
“I can’t thank you enough for the great help the Garcia family is receiving during these difficult times,” Garcia posted on Facebook.
‘I just want to say take care of your loved ones. Please be closer as a family even when your world is falling. The only ones who will really be there are your family members.
“I hope they tell their siblings and parents that they love them,” he wrote.