GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The sister of Ruby Garcia, who was murdered, said she and her family were at home, watching in shock as former President Donald Trump said he had talked to “some of her family” during a speech in Michigan.
“He did not talk to any of us, so it was surprising to see him say that he had spoken with us and give false information on live TV,” said Mavi Garcia, Ruby Garcia’s sister, speaking to Nexstar’s WOOD.
Mavi Garcia, as the family spokesperson, mentioned that neither Trump nor anyone from his campaign had reached out to her or any of her immediate family. She noted that her family is close, and she would have been aware if that had occurred.
“It was surprising. I stopped watching after that. I only saw up to that point. After hearing a few false statements he made, I just stopped watching,” Mavi Garcia said.
During his speech on Tuesday, Trump devoted some time to immigration and referenced the March 22 murder of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia. According to court records, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who was in the U.S. illegally, has admitted to killing her and leaving her along US-131 in Grand Rapids.
Although the police claim that the two were a couple, Ruby Garcia’s sister indicated that they were just friends and their relationship had not progressed to that extent.
She mentioned that she knew Ortiz-Vite was in the U.S. illegally but was unaware of the specifics.
“I wish he had stayed in Mexico,” expressed Mavi Garcia.
She spoke with the media a few days after her sister’s shooting, but the family requested privacy after that, including on the day of the funeral. However, she immediately responded to a text from WOOD after Trump’s speech in Grand Rapids on Tuesday.
She expressed anger that Trump and others have turned her sister’s death into a political issue.
“It’s constantly about illegal immigrants,” Garcia stated. “Hardly anyone discusses when Americans commit terrible crimes, so it’s surprising why he would only bring up undocumented individuals. What about Americans who commit atrocious crimes like that?”
“The attention should be on my sister right now — who she was in life. I want people to remember who she was in life,” she added.
“She was a a very joyful person, a very giving person,” she mentioned about her sister. “She was always so cheerful. She could brighten up a room.”
Ortiz-Vite faces five charges, which include felony murder and carjacking. He is scheduled to appear in Grand Rapids District Court on April 9.
