Elizabeth Ortiz-Chavez, the mother at the center of a tragic killing in Albuquerque, faced intense scrutiny during an interrogation in March 2022. The police had confronted her with the claim that her car had been spotted at the scene where 16-year-old Josue Ruiz was shot and killed behind a diner. Despite the mounting evidence, Ortiz-Chavez initially denied any involvement in the crime and insisted she was innocent.
“You’ve got to be lying to me about that car,” Ortiz-Chavez said to the officers in the footage, attempting to distance herself from the allegations. She repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating, “No, I didn’t. No.” When the officers pressed her further, she claimed she was at a laundromat alone between 1:37 and 2:20 a.m. on the night of the shooting, suggesting her children were all at home and under her strict supervision. Ortiz-Chavez claimed that none of her children could leave the house without her permission.
At first, law enforcement believed that Ortiz-Chavez’s son, Angelo Baldonado, was the one who committed the murder. Baldonado, then 16, was arrested and charged with the crime. However, as the investigation continued into 2023, it became clear that Ortiz-Chavez had played a larger role in the death of Ruiz. Prosecutors revealed that Ortiz-Chavez had initially tried to shift the blame to her son, possibly to protect him, given that he was a minor and could face a lesser sentence.
In a series of jailhouse calls between Ortiz-Chavez and Baldonado, the mother seemed ready to come forward, yet Baldonado urged her not to speak out for the sake of the family. These calls were crucial in understanding the pressure Ortiz-Chavez faced, and it became evident that she had been attempting to shield her son from the consequences of her own actions.
The turning point in the case came in March 2023 when Baldonado’s brother spoke to a woman on Facebook about the events surrounding the murder. According to investigators, Baldonado’s brother revealed key details about what had really happened that night. He stated that both Ortiz-Chavez and her son Angelo had gone to confront Josue Ruiz, and during the confrontation, Ruiz attempted to pull a gun. Before he could do so, he was shot. This account was significantly different from the narrative Ortiz-Chavez had been presenting to the authorities. The brother also noted that the “crazy part” was that Baldonado wasn’t revealing the truth about his mother’s involvement.
As investigators continued to press Ortiz-Chavez during the interrogation, they became more convinced that she was withholding crucial information. The officer, clearly frustrated, said, “People are telling me it’s your car on the scene,” and pressed her further, stating, “I also feel you know more than you’re telling me.” Despite this, Ortiz-Chavez continued to deny any involvement in the murder, insisting that she was not present during the shooting.
In a surprising turn of events, Ortiz-Chavez ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January 2025. Her sentencing has yet to be scheduled, but it marks the conclusion of a long and tumultuous legal process. Meanwhile, Baldonado, who was initially charged with the murder, was sentenced to four years in prison for assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a lesser sentence compared to what might have been expected had he been convicted of the killing.
This case has drawn attention to the complicated and often tragic dynamics within families, as well as the lengths to which individuals might go to protect their loved ones, even when it means trying to shield them from the truth. The events that led to Josue Ruiz’s death highlight the devastating consequences of both familial loyalty and the denial of responsibility.
