Inset: Joseph Ruiz (Chicago PD). Background: The area in Illinois where Ruiz allegedly killed his adoptive mother (Google Maps).
A 51-year-old man in Illinois is accused of killing his adoptive mother, allegedly beating her to death inside their Chicago home earlier this year. Joseph Ruiz is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of murder with a strong probability of death or injury, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Chicago Police Department, Ruiz was taken into custody Nov. 5 in connection with the death of 84-year-old Benilda Ruiz. Police found Benilda Ruiz dead inside a home in the 11000 block of South Washtenaw Avenue on March 13.
On March 8, days before Benilda Ruiz's body was found, a neighbor told police they saw Ruiz in front of the home yelling at his mother before "roughly" grabbing her by the arm and putting her into a car, local Fox affiliate WFLD reported. Ruiz also reportedly threw a bag of jewelry onto the sidewalk and left a pile of her clothing at the foot of the front steps.
On March 12, Ruiz allegedly called 911 and told an emergency dispatcher that his mother was on the ground and needed medical assistance, according to local CBS affiliate WBBM. It was not clear whether he told the dispatcher why his mom was on the floor.
When first responders arrived, Ruiz reportedly refused them entry. Responders reportedly did see the jewelry and clothing pile outside the home.
On March 13, Ruiz again called 911 and requested an ambulance, allegedly telling the dispatcher his mother had died the previous evening. Authorities reportedly found Benilda Ruiz's body covered with a blanket inside the home. She reportedly appeared to have suffered severe trauma, with injuries visible to her face, throat, arms and body.
Speaking to paramedics, Ruiz allegedly said that he and his mother had "gotten into it" the previous day, but then claimed he "didn't break her neck," WFLD reported. Police responded to the home later in the day on March 13, brought Ruiz in and had him placed in a psychiatric hospital.
Several days after his mother's body was found, Ruiz allegedly told a hospital social worker that he did not attempt to perform CPR on his mother because she had a "crushed windpipe," according to WFLD.
An autopsy reportedly determined Benilda Ruiz's manner of death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Her injuries included a brain bleed and lacerated liver as well as fractures to her spine, collarbone and multiple ribs. The medical examiner compared Benilda Ruiz's injuries to those of a victim of a severe car wreck, WFLD reported.
Several of Benilda Ruiz's family members told WBBM about waiting for an arrest in her death.
"We've been on pins and needles because we just didn't know what was going on," Jorge Buston, her nephew, told the station.
Buston added that he and his sister believed Ruiz was the killer.
"I always thought that he had something to do with it," he reportedly said.
Ruiz is being held in the Cook County Jail without bond and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Nov. 10.