An illegal immigrant from Mexico who shot and killed a Grand Rapids woman before dumping her body along the highway pleaded guilty on Monday as part of a plea deal preferred by the victim’s family.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker told WOOD the family of Ruby Garcia, 25, wanted to pursue a plea deal with Brandon Ortiz-Vite that’s expected to result in a prison sentence of 30 to 37 years, along with a mandatory two-year sentence for a felony firearm charge.

“There’s always the (possible) pitfalls of what may happen at trial. Although we have a very good case, and I wasn’t worried about losing it, but things happen. Things could be overturned. It could be a mistrial,” he said. “So this was done in consultation with the family and this was their wishes. There’s so much more certainty with a plea than if you take it to trial.”

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Ortiz-Vite confessed to killing Garcia with an illegally purchased handgun during an argument in Garcia’s car on March 22, resulting in charges of open murder, second-degree murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Ortiz-Vite pleaded guilty to all but open murder on Monday and is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 31.

“I’m turning myself in because I did a horrible crime,” Ortiz-Vite told a Michigan State Police trooper following his arrest at a church in Allegan County two days after the March 22 murder.

The murder, at the time the second within a year allegedly committed by an illegal immigrant, has driven debate over the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies, with Republicans including former President Donald Trump pointing to the case as an example of the consequences of millions illegally crossing the southern border.

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The Midwesterner was the first media outlet to report Ortiz-Vite’s immigration status.

Ortiz-Vite was once approved for President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shields illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation, but his DACA status expired in May 2019. He was deported by Donald Trump’s administration in September 2020 following a string of crimes including driving while intoxicated and burglary, though it remains unclear when he returned to the U.S.

The 25-year-old admitted to drinking alcohol and using cocaine on the night of the murder, when Michigan State Police officials said Garcia attempted to end a romantic relationship.

MSP Detective Sgt. Aaron Tubergen testified Garcia was driving as the two argued and Ortiz-Vite repeatedly attempted to grab the steering wheel, prompting Garcia to pull over on US-131 and demand Ortiz-Vite exit the car.

Ortiz-Vite asked Garcia to drop him off elsewhere, fearing police patrolling the highway would find him walking and learn he was in the country illegally.

When Garcia pulled out her phone, Ortiz-Vite pulled out his gun, according to testimony cited by WXMI.

“He commented on his own immigration status and was worried about having contact with law enforcement,” Tubergen testified.

Ortiz-Vite shot Garcia multiple times inside the vehicle, then got out of the car and opened the driver’s door, where he could see Garcia was still alive, Tubergen said.

“He recalled signs of life,” Tubergen said. “He indicated that her hands were still moving. He indicated in similar terms that she was still fighting for her life, and that’s when he decided to shoot her one more time, he believed it was in the head.”

Ortiz-Vite then dumped Garcia’s body alongside US-131 near Leonard Street NW before fleeing in her car, WMTV reports.

He was arrested at a church in Allegan County on March 24 after confessing to the crime.

“I’m calling ‘cause I wanna turn myself in for a murder I committed two nights ago,” Ortiz-Vite said.

In the months since the murder, illegal immigrants have been arrested for multiple sex assaults in Ann Arbor, a fatal hit-and-run in Grand Rapids, soliciting sex from minors in Shiawassee County, sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl in Livingston County, and breaking into a home in Sturgis to molest two girls under the age of 13.