The family of Felicia Ruiz, a Texas woman brutally murdered in 1999, continues to grapple with the pain of her loss while one of her killers lives freely in Venezuela. While two of the individuals involved in her stabbing were convicted and sentenced to prison, Jesus Salazar escaped justice by fleeing to his home country.
For the Ruiz family, the quest for justice has been a long and arduous journey. Carrie Ruiz expressed the emotional toll it has taken on them, stating, “It’s been hell. We go to the cemetery to see her, and when we leave, we’re angry.”
The story of Felicia’s tragic death gained national attention during a 2016 campaign event, where Donald Trump vowed to take action. “If I win, I will get him out fast,” he promised, but the family has since learned that justice remains elusive.
Despite the passage of time, life has seemingly continued for Salazar, who has been under the protection of the Venezuelan government for more than 25 years. Andy Kahan from Crime Stoppers noted, “They knew where he was; he knew he would never be extradited back to the United States. They protected him.”
Lou Ruiz, Felicia’s father, lamented Salazar’s freedom, saying, “Enjoying his life, getting married, having a family. But his day is coming now.” The Ruiz family holds on to the hope that recent actions taken by the United States may offer them a chance at finally achieving justice.
As Carrie Ruiz poignantly remarked, “Now is the opportunity, because if we don’t get him now, we’ll probably never get him.” The family remains vigilant as they await further developments in their long fight for justice.
