Elizabeth Ortiz-Chavez, a mother from New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to killing her daughter’s boyfriend, Josue Ruiz, after initially allowing her teenage son, Angelo Baldonado, to take the blame for the murder.
According to reports from KRQE News, the incident occurred in March 2022, when Baldonado, then 16, was involved in an altercation with Ruiz, also 16, behind Lindy’s Diner in downtown Albuquerque.
Allegedly, Ruiz had been physically abusing Ortiz-Chavez’s pregnant daughter.
The fight ended with Ruiz being shot and killed.
Initially, Baldonado was charged with first-degree murder in 2023. However, jail calls revealed that Ortiz-Chavez wanted to confess to the crime, while Baldonado insisted she did not.
Prosecutors believe that Ortiz-Chavez allowed her son to take the fall for the murder because, as a minor, he would receive a less harsh sentence.
Baldonado’s brother messaged a woman on Facebook, stating, “I have an older brother locked up because of her… I hate her for what she did. He deserves to be home with his daughter. She’ll never know him at all because she’s a selfish b***h.”
The woman subsequently shared the information with the police, leading to Ortiz-Chavez’s arrest and charge with second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. On January 15 2025, she pleaded guilty to the charge.
Ortiz-Chavez now faces up to 18 years in prison when sentenced. Meanwhile, Baldonado’s charges have been updated to “conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and a felony assault charge.” He will remain behind bars until he turns 21.
