It has come to light that the family of Ruby Garcia is lashing out at former President Donald Trump after Trump falsely claimed in a speech that he spoke to the family and also criticized him for politicizing Garcia’s death via Mediaite.
Ruby Garcia was murdered on March 22, a crime that Brandon Ortiz-Vite has confessed to. Ortiz-Vite entered the U.S. as a child and was allowed to stay under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), according to ICE.
It was noted that Trump gave a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tuesday night, during which he lashed out over the killing as he railed about immigration:
Now Ruby’s loved ones and community are left grieving for this incredible young woman, remembering what they called her. They said she had just this most contagious laughter, and when she walked into a room, she lit up that room. And I’ve heard that from so many people. I spoke to some of her family.
However, Mavi Garcia, Ruby’s sister and spokesperson for the family, told Targt 8 correspondent Ken Kolker that never happened, and she was “shocked” when Trump made the false claim “on live TV”:
KEN KOLKER: Ruby Garcia’s sister says she’s angry that her sister’s death has become political.
MAVI GARCIA: It’s always been about illegal immigrants. Nobody really speaks about when Americans do famous crimes, and it, kind of shocking why he would just bring up illegals. What about Americans who do heinous crimes like that?
KEN KOLKER: The sister, Mavi Garcia, spoke with the media days after the March 22nd shooting. But the family as for privacy after that, including on the day of the funeral. But she responded immediately to a text from Target 8 after Trump’s speech.
DONALD TRUMP: Now Ruby’s loved ones and community are left grieving for this incredible young woman, remembering what they called her. They said she had just this most contagious laughter.
KEN KOLKER: And she says neither Trump nor anybody from his campaign has contacted her or anybody in her immediate family. She says her family is tight and she would know if that had happened.
MAVI GARCIA: He did not speak with any of us. So it was, kind of shocking seeing that he had said that he has spoke with us and, you know, is saying, well– misinforming people, live to be.
Shocking. You know, kind of stop watching it. I don’t I only seen up to that. After I heard, you know, a couple of, misinformation that he had said I kind of just stopped watching it.
KEN KOLKER: Brandon Ortiz Vite, who was in the U.S. illegally, has confessed to killing her sister in dumping her along U.S. 131, while police say the two were boyfriend-girlfriend. Ruby’s sister says the two were friends and that the relationship had not gotten that far. She says she knew that Ortiz Vite was in the U.S. illegally, but did not know the details.
MAVI GARCIA: I wish she would have stayed in Mexico. The focus should be on my sister right now. On really like, who she was. And, like, I want people to remember how she was in life. She was a very happy person, a very generous person. She was always so happy. Could light up a room.
KEN KOLKER: Now, Trump did get that part, right, right?
MAVI GARCIA: He did get one part right.
