'It was shocking': Family of murder victim furious over Trump lie about speaking with them

03 April 2024

During a campaign speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Tuesday, April 2, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump claimed that he had spoken with "some of" the "family" members of Ruby Garcia — a 25-year-old woman who had died from gunshot wounds when her body was found in Grand Rapids on March 22. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who is in the United States illegally, has confessed to the killing and is facing murder charges.

But according to the Washington Post and Grand Rapids' Target Channel 8, Ruby Garcia's sister, Mavi Garcia, is saying that Trump never contacted the family.

Mavi Garcia told Target 8, "He did not speak with any of us, so it was kind of shocking seeing that he had said that he had spoke with us, and misinforming people on live TV…. It was shocking."

Mavi Garcia also said of Trump's Grand Rapids speech, "I kind of stopped watching it. I'd only seen up to that. After I heard a couple of misinformations he said, I just stopped watching it."

During his speech, Trump blamed incumbent President Joe Biden's immigration policies for Ruby Garcia's death.

Trump told the crowd, "She lit up that room, and I've heard that from so many people. I spoke to some of her family."

But Mavi Garcia, according to Washington Post reporter Hannah Knowles, has "confirmed to" the publication "that Trump and his campaign never spoke with the family."

Mavi Garcia also criticized Trump for using her sister's death to promote fear-mongering over illegal immigration.

Mavi Garcia told Target 8, "It's always been about illegal immigrants. Nobody really speaks about when Americans do heinous crimes, and it's kind of shocking why he would just bring up illegals. What about Americans who do heinous crimes like that?"

Read Target 8's full report at this link and the Washington Post's reporting here (subscription required).

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