Nearly 30-Year Manhunt Ends in Arrest for Iowa Hit-and-Run After 'America's Most Wanted' Tip
A rerun of the crime show led to a break in the cold case that claimed the life of Leslie Ruby in 1997.
A man accused of a fatal hit-and-run in Des Moines, Iowa, nearly three decades ago has been arrested thanks to a tip generated by a rerun of "America's Most Wanted." Gerardo Garcia-Michel, 64, was apprehended last month after a viewer recognized him as a neighbor and contacted Crime Stoppers.
Leslie Ruby, a 64-year-old grandfather and Korean War veteran, was killed on September 29, 1997. He was struck by a car while crossing the street on his riding lawn mower, returning home from his daughter's house. The impact carried Ruby approximately 150 feet. The driver of the vehicle did not stop to render aid and fled the scene.
Des Moines Police identified Garcia-Michel, who was 28 at the time of the incident, as a suspect shortly after the collision. A warrant for his arrest was issued, but investigators believed he had fled the state, possibly to Southern California. These initial leads proved unsuccessful.
"America's Most Wanted" featured the case a year after Ruby's death, hoping the exposure would generate new information. However, it wasn't until nearly 29 years later, on August 4, 2024, that a tip arrived from a New Jersey resident who recognized Garcia-Michel from the program. The tip included a photograph, which police confirmed was a strong match to the suspect, despite the passage of time.
Authorities in New Jersey arrested Garcia-Michel on August 26. Jail records indicate he was charged as a fugitive from justice. Des Moines police are currently working on extraditing him to Iowa. According to Sergeant Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department, Garcia-Michel had evaded capture for years by subtly altering his name and date of birth.
Investigators in 1997 had limited initial information, with witnesses unable to provide a clear description of the driver. The vehicle involved was described as a large, dark-colored car with no license plates. A few days after the incident, an officer located a parked vehicle matching the description, showing significant damage to its bumper and windshield. Investigation into the vehicle's ownership led police to Garcia-Michel.
Leslie Ruby's wife, Patricia, died three years after her husband's killing, never seeing justice for the crime. Their daughter, Shirley, passed away in 2013. Ruby's granddaughter, Shonna, expressed that her mother and grandmother could now "rest in peace" knowing that the case was not forgotten.
Sergeant Parizek emphasized the department's commitment to seeking answers for families, regardless of how much time has passed. "It doesn't matter if its 29 minutes, 29 days or 29 years after a crime. Getting answers for the family is one of the most important things we can do as an organization, and our detectives work hard every day to do that," he stated.
