GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An undocumented immigrant accused of murdering his girlfriend and leaving her body along US-131 will be going to trial.
Wednesday, a judge found enough evidence to send Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 25-year-old citizen of Mexico, to trial on charges of felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm.
He was previously arraigned on all five charges in the death of Ruby Garcia, 25, of Grand Rapids.
Garcia and Ortiz-Vite were in a car together when she was shot and killed on March 22, according to Kent County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Becker.
The pair had reportedly been discussing their relationship in the car for a while before the shooting took place.
Garcia had indicated that she was done with the conversation and was going to take Ortiz-Vite home, but Ortiz-Vite thought there was more to talk about, a Michigan State Police sergeant testified Wednesday.
Ortiz-Vite then pulled on the steering wheel, prompting Garcia to pull over, park the car and tell the 25-year-old to get out.
Edward M. Donnelly, a Holland resident, testified on Wednesday, recalling an experience with what he believed to be Ortiz-Vite.
"A car was on my back bumper very quickly flashing its lights at me; I noticed it was a red, sporty car, I moved over and let the car go by, and the car went by in a hurry," he said.
A video released in court today showed Ortiz-Vite asking for protection from the MSP.
"I know what I did was a horrible, horrible thing, but I also fear for my life," he can be heard saying on video.
Ortiz-Vite believed members of Garcia's family would come after him if he does not get protection in jail.
"When it comes to death, for what I did, I know it's not going to be just a shot to the head," he said. "It's going to be torture."
Allegedly, Ortiz-Vite commented on his own immigration status, saying that he was scared of the police and wanted Garcia to take him somewhere, but Garcia didn't.
He would then refuse to get out of Garcia's car and, as she pulled out her phone, took Garcia's cell phone because he thought she was going to call the police, the sergeant testified.
The pair got into a fight and hit each other before Ortiz-Vite remembered he had a gun and shot Garcia four times: twice in the head, once in the hand and once in her upper arm, according to forensic pathologist David Start.
"He remembered that he had his handgun with him," said MSP detective sergeant Aaron Tubergen. "I believe he said it was 'instinct' that he then reached for the gun and then shot her multiple times from inside the vehicle."
Garcia's body was found along southbound US-131 near Leonard Street NW, according to state police.
Ortiz-Vite, after abandoning Garcia's car in South Haven, called Allegan County Central Dispatch two days later on March 24 to confess that he killed Garcia and that he wanted to turn himself in.
“I am calling because I want to turn myself in to a murder I committed two nights ago," Ortiz-Vite said. "I know what I did was wrong and I will do the time, I just don’t want to die inside.”
The 25-year-old was arrested and charged with murder on March 26.
A trial date for Ortiz-Vite will be set at a later time.
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