VISTA — More than eight years after 30-year-old Miguel Ruiz was found dead in the laundry room of a Vista apartment building, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a suspect in the case.
Adan Villa, 29, was taken into custody on July 11 after being located at the Vista Courthouse and has been charged with first-degree murder. He will appear for a hearing on July 24 in Vista Superior Court.
The fatal incident took place in January 2017 at the Shadowridge Meadow Apartments along South Melrose Drive. According to the sheriff’s Homicide Unit, Ruiz was involved in a confrontation with several other individuals, which escalated, and he was fatally stabbed.
Ruiz’s sister, Gloria Ruiz-Huizar, said her brother was a kind and loving soul. The loss was extremely painful for her and for their father, who passed away in 2021, she said.
“He was my one and only brother. He didn’t deserve to go out like that. Nobody deserves to have their life taken. It hurts everyday,” Ruiz-Huizar said. “My kids miss their uncle. He was the best — funny and full of love for them.”
While the exact circumstances of the crime have not been confirmed, Villa is believed to be part of a gang, said Lt. Juan Marquez.
“Villa is believed to be associated with a street gang and this case is possibly gang related,” Marquez said.
Back in 2017, law enforcement stated that Ruiz also had a history as a gang member. Ruiz-Huizar said her brother did fall into gang activity at a young age when he didn’t know better, but that he was so much more than that — he was a great brother, son, friend, cousin, and nephew.
With a suspect now in custody, their family is seeking closure and just wants to know what happened.
“I just want closure. I want our hearts to heal,” Ruiz-Huizar said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
This story was updated to include statements from Miguel Ruiz’s sister.
