Gang Signs Flashed in Courtroom as Jury Finds Gang Banger Guilty of Murdering Former Stripper

SAN ANGELO, TX – A Tom Green County jury deliberated for just 42 minutes before finding Andres Rios Ramirez guilty of murdering Camille Garcia in March 2018 and discarding her body in a dumpster north of San Angelo. 

The day began in court with Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Investigator Andrew Alwine still on the witness stand.  There are four women and ten men in the jury including two alternates. 

District Attorney Allison Palmer led Alwine through more evidence including photos taken of 32-year-old Ramirez at the Sheriff's Office interview room.  The photos show no wounds on Ramirez's arms or hands.  Ramirez told investigators that 24-year-old Camille Garcia came at him with a knife during a meth fueled argument in his home.  He demonstrated for investigators how he had to hold her down while she held the knife with both hands.  Palmer earlier showed jurors autopsy photos of Garcia's arms and hands. Neither one had any knife wounds on their hands or arms.  

Alwine told jurors it would be highly unusual for neither individual to suffer a knife wound in the struggle Ramirez described in his six hour long video interview.  

Palmer showed the jury a google map of San Angelo showing the crime scene at 629 Antonio St. and the dumpster where Garcia's body was found on opposite sides of town.  Alwine estimated it was at least 8 miles from the crime scene to the dumpster. 

Then Palmer focused on the residence where the murder occurred.  Alwine testified that when they were investigation the residence, there was a strong smell of decomposition and a strong smell of pine cleaner.  Palmer showed photos of the blood stained sectional couch and carpet where Ramirez shot Garcia point blank in the head.  Ramirez had attempted to use pine cleaner to clean up all the blood from the couch and the carpet.  

Alwine testified investigators took the couch, the carpet and the underlying flooring as evidence. 

He also testified under questioning that they searched for the bullet and shell casing but couldn't find them.  Ramirez said in the video interview that he threw away everything related to the shooting.  

Alwine told the jury investigators used the couch and the carpet in a reconstruction of the crime scene at a county facility.  In that reconstruction, investigators used trajectory rods to show the path of the bullet into the blood stained couch.  Palmer showed the jury photos of that reconstruction. 

Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Sheppard then called Derek Williams to the witness stand.  Williams is a TGCSO jail investigator who provided jail call visits between Ramirez and his mother.  In the seven clips of four visits, Ramirez admitted that he shot and killed Garcia.  He was laughing and cussing as he talked to his mother.  

The prosecution's final witness was Texas Ranger Philip Kemp.  Kemp testified that he helped process and collect evidence at the dumpster and at the murder scene.  He used a 3D scanner to help recreate the crime scene. Kemp testified that there was no blood spatter on the walls or on the top of the couch or anywhere in the room except on the couch and the carpet.  He said the evidence showed the victim was laying on the couch when she was shot in the head and not standing as Ramirez said in his video interview.  

Palmer rested the state's case at noon. 

Defense attorney Kirk Hawkins presented his defense beginning at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.  He called Armando Cruz, 32, to the stand.  Cruz testified he currently lives in the Roy K. Robb Community Residential Treatment Center or CRTC as part of his sentencing for drug offenses.  Cruz testified he met Ramirez in jail and he had met Garcia a few times when she lived in an apartment on Lillie St. in north San Angelo. Cruz testified that he had seen Garcia get violent with his brother at her apartment. 

Hawkins then called Esther Rico to the witness stand.  Rico works at the Nueva Vista Apartment complex where Garcia last lived.  She testified that they didn't renew Garcia's lease and she had to move out because she violated apartment rules by damaging her apartment and not keeping it clean.  Rico said Garcia had two children who lived with her and that she eventually had her third child.  Rico testified Garcia had lost a lot of weight after the birth of her third child just before she moved out.  

Hawkins then called Bobby Banda to the witness stand.  The gang banger was shackled and chained as an inmate in the Tom Green County Jail.  Banda said he was in prison for meth possession and he knew Garcia.  Banda said proudly he was a member of the Southside Sureno gang, which is a branch of the Southern United Raza gang. Banda said his gang wasn't involved in the murder of Garcia and that she was a member of the gang. Garcia had a large tattoo  of 'South' on her abdomen and a 'Southside' tattoo on her arm.  Banda testified he gave Garcia rides to strip clubs in San Angelo and Lubbock where she worked as a stripper.  Banda said Garcia wasn't a violent person. 

As the heavily tattooed gang member was led from the court room he signaled to another heavily tattooed gang member sitting in the back of the court room.  "God bless you brother!"  he said as he left.  The unidentified gang member threw a gang sign back to Banda in return. 

Hawkins rested his case at 2:10 p.m.

Judge Brad Goodwin then read the charge, or instructions about how they are to conduct deliberations, to the jury and told them they would begin deliberations after closing arguments.

D.A. Palmer went first and then closed after Hawkins.  

In Palmer's brief opening, she thanked jurors for their service and outlined the charge and law they were to consider.  Palmer said Ramirez admitted on several occasions to shooting and killing Garcia.  

Defense attorney Hawkins told jurors the victim talked to several different men in the same south side neighborhood and he believed she was on a down hill slope when she was killed.  He reminded jurors that testimony showed photos on Garcia's social media were pretty rough. 

Hawkins told jurors Ramirez was remorseful and cooperated with law enforcement.  He said Garcia was high on meth and attacked Ramirez with a knife and he was just defending himself in his own home.  Hawkins said Ramirez had never seen Garcia that high on meth and he feared for his life.  Hawkins said the shooting was in self defense. 

Palmer then got to present the final closing argument. 

The seasoned District Attorney carefully and deliberately led jurors through the evidence showing that Garcia's folding knife was closed when investigators found it and only Garcia's DNA was on the knife.  She said Ramirez's DNA would have been on the knife if it was open and he had to close it before throwing it away.  Palmer said the evidence showed the knife was closed and Ramirez didn't touch it.  

Palmer told jurors that Garcia is not present to talk for herself so the evidence has to speak for her.  "Let the evidence speak for her.  You are free to reject the self defense claim."  Palmer said.

Palmer asked jurors, "She's on this couch and she's going to attack and kill him with a knife and there is a gun on the couch?  He's got 50 lbs and six inches on her."  

Palmer reminded jurors Ramirez disposed of the bullet and the spent shell casing.  His DNA was on the gun.  Her DNA was on the gun.  He admitted to shooting her and she had a contact wound on the left side of her head.  Ramirez is right handed and he said he was standing behind her so the entry wound should have been on the right side of her head according to testimony.  

Trajectory shows Ramirez held her down on the couch, put the Smith & Wesson 9mm  to the left side of her head and shot her. 

Palmer calmly ramped up her closing before the jury. "There was a clump of her hair stuck to her tank top at the autopsy.  Her head was held down forcibly.  She wasn't a threat to him. 

She was executed.  She was killed because he (Ramirez) thought she was disposable.  He got to say who lives and who dies in Tom Green County.  She was coming to him for money and drugs.  She was so vulnerable; she was using meth and at a low point in her life.  And he believe he could throw her away."  said Palmer alluding to her body being found in a dumpster. 

Palmer told jurors no evidence supports Ramirez's claim that she was in a standing position when she was shot.  "He held her down and shoved her head into the couch and shot her.  She wasn't a threat to him." Palmer said. 

Palmer asked jurors, "How is this happening in our community?  Why doesn't someone do something?"  Palmer told jurors, "You are in a position to do something about this." 

Deliberations began at 3:10 p.m.

The jury reached a verdict at 3:52 p.m.

Judge Goodwin met with the attorneys and reconvened the trial at 4:21 p.m. 

He had Andres Rios Ramirez stand.  Goodwin read the verdict: "The jury has found you guilty of murder as charged in the indictment."  

While Goodwin had warned the audience in the gallery that no outbursts of emotion would be tolerated, Garcia's parents sobbed loudly and broke down in tears after the guilty verdict was read.  

Goodwin released the jury and instructed them to return to the courthouse by 9 a.m. Thursday to begin the punishment phase of the trial.  

Ramirez is facing 5 to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  

The jury will determine his punishment after hearing evidence from prosecutors and defense attorneys.  

D.A. Palmer told the court she expects to rest the punishment phase of her prosecution Thursday morning.