June 1, 2017
(McKinney, Texas) – David Ruiz, 37, of Arizona City, Arizona, received life in prison for Murder, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis.
Ruiz met the 25 year-old male victim in May of 2008, at a lab study in Austin, Texas. The victim offered to let Ruiz stay at an apartment with him and a friend in Plano, Texas after learning Ruiz had nowhere to stay.
On May 31, 2008, Plano Police responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic disturbance. Witnesses in the apartment next door reported they heard arguing, saw the victim’s body thrown against the window, watched him fall to the ground and observed a pool of blood form at his feet. Ruiz then went back onto the balcony and made statements about killing the victim. When the neighbors went to check on the victim, they saw Ruiz run out of the apartment with a knife. While the victim’s friend tried to stop the bleeding, the neighbors attempted to catch Ruiz but ultimately lost him behind some nearby businesses. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead before doctors could operate. An autopsy revealed that the victim died from multiple stab wounds.
Ruiz remained on the run for almost 8 years until he was arrested crossing the border from Mexico into Arizona in January of 2016. Judge Scott Becker convicted Ruiz of the Murder.
During punishment, the State offered evidence of Ruiz’s prior convictions for other violent crimes as well as evidence of warrants for aggravated assault that were pending in Arizona at the time of the Plano, Texas murder. Judge Becker sentenced Ruiz to life in prison.
The case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and lead Detective Beth Spillman. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ashley Briggs and Cynthia Walker. They were aided by District Attorney Investigators Jared Clark and J.D. Spielman. Judge Scott Becker presided over the case.
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