Brother of lower valley woman found murdered said sister had a newborn baby

There is new information on a murder in El Paso’s lower valley.

The victim’s family is identifying the woman killed as 25-year-old Ruby Rodriguez.

Her brother told ABC-7 by phone she was found stabbed to death inside a home.

That home is located on the 300 block of Apodaca Place, off Zaragoza Road, between Mt. Carmel Cemetary and Speaking Rock casino.

A suspect was taken into custody less than a half mile away in a field next to South Loop Elementary School, which was placed on lockdown.

El Paso police have not released the name of the suspect.

However, Rodriguez’s family said they believe the man responsible for her death is her boyfriend. Her brother called it a crime of passion.

El Paso Police Spokesman Darrel Petry told ABC-7 during a briefing Monday a woman was found dead by police at 2:30 a.m. Police had been called to the house to check on the person living at the home.

Police have not officially identified the victim.

Neighbors described hearing a disturbance.

“Yelling , screaming and doors slamming. I just heard like a couple fighting,” said a woman named Paulina. “I just thought, oh well , they will get over it. It’s just a fight or whatever. Domestic violence maybe.”

Paulina knew there was trouble at her neighbor’s home, but had no idea it was a matter of life and death.

Rodriguez, a mother of two, did not survive.

Isabella Shaw lives across the street from where the woman’s body was found.

“There was a gentleman that walked by early, early this morning and told my neighbor that she was stabbed 10 times,” Shaw said.

News of Rodriguez’s murder spread quickly on social media. Her friends posted on her Facebook page.

One friend wrote, “Rest in paradise Ruby.”

Another posted, “I cannot believe you are gone. Seeing you the other day was a true blessing, always smiling and laughing, you are in a better place and will be truly missed. “

The Bel Air class of 2009 also posted, “It is with a heavy heart that I come to you class of 2009 to let everyone know we lost one of our own.”

Rodriguez’s brother said he doesn’t know what led to the stabbing. His family still in shock at the sudden loss. He called his sister a devoted mother of a young girl and a newborn baby.

This is the ninth murder of 2017, compared with four at this time last year.