Family of murder victim Ruby Garcia deny speaking with Trump

Donald Trump’s latest effort to weaponise the death of an American against Joe Biden and his management of the situation at America’s southern border has enraged family members of his most recent target.

After the former president and current presumed nominee for the 2024 Republican nomination told supporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan that he had spoken to relatives of Ruby Garcia, the murdered young woman’s family is speaking out. Mr Trump appeared at a rally in the state on Tuesday as he continues campaigning for the presidency and waxed poetic about Ms Garcia to attendees at the event.

“Now Ruby’s loved ones and community are left grieving for this incredible young woman,” said the former president. “They said she had the most contagious laughter and when she walked into a room she lit up that room.”

He added: “I’ve heard that from so many people. I spoke to some of her family.”

Ms Garcia’s sister says the former president’s words were a complete lie: she told a local news outlet the day of the rally that the former president did not reach out to any member of her direct family — nor did any member of his 2024 campaign team.

She sat there in disbelief, she says, as Mr Trump described supposedly hearing accounts of her sister.

“It was shocking. 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,” said Mavi Garcia, who is also serving as her family’s spokesperson in the wake of her murder. A 25-year-old man whom Ruby Garcia was dating has been arrested and confessed to her murder. The accused, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, is in the country illegally after being removed from the US once before.

Mavi Garcia added in her statement to Target 8 News