Man sentenced in Michigan slaying that stoked anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric

Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News on Nov 8, 2024

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DETROIT — A man in the United States illegally has been sentenced in the death of a Michigan woman highlighted in the 2024 presidential campaign.

Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 26, was sentenced Thursday in Kent County Circuit Court to 39 years in prison, officials said.

"This was a cold-blooded, intentional killing," said Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Rusock said before handing down his sentence. "There are just no reasons for this. No justification. No excuse whatsoever."

The judge added: "You are a cold-blooded murder. And you are a danger to society. You are a very violent individual and you need to be removed from society."

Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker said Friday that he's pleased with the sentence.

"While the family of the victim wanted to avoid a trial, they were hoping the judge would give him the most possible time under the plea agreement, and that is what occurred," he said via email. "This was a horrific crime that impacted their family tremendously, and I’m pleased that they were able to see he will receive a lengthy sentence for what he did."

Ortiz said in court Thursday that he wanted to apologize to his community, his family and friends for his role in the slaying, according to video of his sentencing hearing recorded by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.

"I am a proud Mexican national whose actions have brought great shame and dishonor to our people," he said. "The actions I took do not define who my people are."

He expressed his remorse to the victim's family.

"I know my words hold little to no value to (her) family," he said. "As a man, I stand before you humbly, full of guilt and shame for unrightfully and unjustly taking the most gift granted to us all — life."

In Spanish, he asked the woman's family to forgive him and said that he loved her.

Before he spoke, Becker told the judge the victim's family member declined to address the court and the defendant.

In March, Ortiz-Vite was charged in the slaying of his girlfriend, Ruby Garcia, 25. Her body was found on the side of southbound U.S.-131, just north of downtown Grand Rapids, police said.

Investigators determined Garcia was shot and killed in her vehicle. Police said they two were arguing about their relationship before Ortiz-Vite shot Garcia in the head, removed her body from the car and drove away.

Rusock said Garcia was shot in the face, head, and arm when she was in the car. He said the defendant then shot her again after he removed her from the vehicle.

Two days later, Ortiz-Vite called 911 to confess and declare his intention to surrender to police.

Prosecutors charged him with felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, using a firearm during the commission of a felony, and second-degree murder, according to court records.

A day after he was charged, federal officials said Ortiz-Vite returned to the U.S. illegally after he was deported to Mexico in 2020.

Donald Trump, who vowed to close the southern border to new migrants and orchestrate the largest deportation effort in the history of the nation if elected to a second term as president, referred to the case during an April campaign stop in Grand Rapids.

He also said he spoke to members of Garcia's family about her death, but Garcia’s sister, Mavi, said Trump and his campaign did not contact her or other immediate relatives — and rebuked his effort to make the case part of his calls for a border crackdown.

In September, Ortiz-Vite pleaded guilty to carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm and second-degree murder in exchange for the dismissal of the felony murder and open murder charges, according to court records.

Second-degree murder carries a penalty of up to life in prison, carjacking is also punishable by up to life in prison, carrying a concealed weapon has up to a 5-year penalty, and the maximum sentence for felony firearm is two years.

Becker said in September that Ortiz-Vite will be handed over to federal immigration authorities after he serves his prison sentence.