An illegal immigrant who was previously deported will stand trial for allegedly murdering his girlfriend on a highway in Michigan, a judge ruled on Wednesday.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, Ruby Garcia, 25, on March 22 along a Grand Rapids highway.
Mr. Ortiz-Vite was deported in 2020 for a drunk driving incident and then returned to the United States, according to reports.
Grand Rapids District Judge Angela Ross ruled on Wednesday that sufficient evidence existed for Mr. Ortiz-Vite to stand trial in the murder of Ms. Garcia.
“I am pleased that the judge found sufficient evidence to send this case to the circuit court,” Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker told The Epoch Times via email on Thursday. “We obviously felt there was more than enough evidence to proceed on the charges, and clearly the judge agreed with us.”
Mr. Ortiz-Vite called 911 from a county church to turn himself in, and Mr. Becker showed a video of Mr. Ortiz-Vite from inside a state police vehicle after he was picked up, according to local media reports.
In the video that Mr. Becker played in court on Wednesday, Mr. Ortiz-Vite said to the state police detective sergeant: “Can I say one thing first? I’m worried about my safety.
“I told one of the officers, I’m turning myself in because I did a horrible crime, and I know I’ll have to face anything,” he continued, adding, “The family, the victim’s family, wants to take justice into their own hands.”
When asked if he felt Mr. Ortiz-Vite showed remorse as he called 911 to turn himself in, Mr. Becker told The Epoch Times: “I tend not to get into discussing if someone showed remorse or not; it really isn’t relevant in a criminal case if they felt remorse or not. I need to focus on what the person did, not how they felt afterward.”
Detective Sgt. Aaron Tubergen testified on Wednesday that Mr. Ortiz-Vite told him he did not plan on killing Ms. Garcia that day, according to local media reports. Mr. Tubergen said Mr. Ortiz-Vite had been drinking and using cocaine and was upset because Ms. Garcia wanted to end their relationship.
As Ms. Garcia drove Mr. Ortiz-Vite home, she pulled over on the U.S.-131 highway and told him to get out of the car. It led to a fight with Mr. Ortiz-Vite refusing to leave the car, Mr. Tubergen testified.
“He commented on his own immigration status and was worried about having contact with law enforcement,” Mr. Tubergen testified. “During that altercation, he remembered that he had his handgun with him. I believe he said it was instinct that he then reached for the gun and shot her multiple times inside the vehicle.”
According to Mr. Tubergen, Mr. Ortiz-Vite went behind the car, opened the driver’s door, and recalled seeing signs of life.
“He indicated that her hands were moving. He indicated in similar terms that she was still fighting for her life, and that’s when he decided to shoot her one more time. He believed it was in the head,” Mr. Tubergen said.
Ms. Garcia was shot four times, twice in the head, according to the autopsy.
Mr. Ortiz-Vite will now stand trial for open murder, which is a combination of first- and second-degree murder, and also felony murder, carjacking, and weapons charges.
The case garnered national attention, including from former President Donald Trump, who traveled to Michigan and gave a speech in which he blamed the Biden administration’s border policies for the murder.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol statistics, noncitizen crimes have risen since President Joe Biden took office. In fiscal year 2021, there were 10,763 arrests of noncitizens for crimes. In FY 2022, there were 12,028 arrests of noncitizens; in FY2023, there were 15,267 arrests. In FY 2020, when President Trump was in office, there were 2,438 arrests of noncitizens for crimes.
President Trump’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the judge’s ruling.
