Brandon Ortiz-Vite facing murder charges in shooting death of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia found on Grand Rapids freeway

A man taken into custody on Sunday by Michigan State Police is now confronted with a felony murder charge related to the death of a woman whose body was discovered next to a Grand Rapids freeway late Friday.

25-year-old Brandon Ortiz-Vite faces charges of felony murder, carjacking, and carrying a concealed weapon, as indicated by law enforcement sources.

Additionally, these sources mention that he is present in the U.S. without legal authorization.

Ortiz-Vite was incarcerated in the Kent County jail on Sunday due to outstanding warrants dating back to 2020.

Sources indicate that he was apprehended at a church in Allegan County on the same day. He had been under suspicion from the outset of the investigation into the death of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia, whose body was discovered late Friday near downtown Grand Rapids along US-131.

The warrant for Ortiz-Vite’s arrest was executed over a day after Garcia’s body was found near southbound US-131 at Leonard Street around 11:38 p.m. on Friday. Garcia, whose listed address was on the city’s Southwest Side, was the victim. Ortiz-Vite has encountered local law enforcement on multiple occasions since 2017, including incidents involving drunk driving and unlawful entry into a residence.

Ortiz-Vite’s interactions with local law enforcement trace back to July 2017 when, at the age of 18, he was cited in Grand Rapids for driving without a valid license.

Six months later, in the city of Wyoming, he was apprehended and accused of trespassing without the owner’s consent. He admitted to the misdemeanor offense and received a one-year probationary sentence.

However, when he neglected to fulfill his probation requirements and neglected to pay fines and court fees, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. As a result, his probation was terminated, and Ortiz-Vite was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

In August 2020, Grand Rapids police arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence and operating a vehicle with a suspended/revoked/denied license.

Three months later, a bench warrant was issued for his failure to appear at a settlement conference. After nearly four years, Ortiz-Vite was arraigned via video in Grand Rapids District Court on the outstanding bench warrant.

A judge imposed a $500 bond, and Ortiz-Vite is currently detained in Kent County jail. Federal authorities announced on Tuesday that Ortiz-Vite was deported to Mexico in September 2020, a month after his arrest.