ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A New Mexico mother, initially allowing her teenage son to be wrongfully jailed for a murder she committed, has pleaded guilty and is now facing prison time.

Elizabeth Ortiz-Chavez, 49, admitted to second-degree murder in the shooting of 16-year-old Josue Ruiz in an alley behind Lindy’s Diner, Albuquerque, in March 2022. Her son, Angelo Baldonado, had been wrongly charged as an adult for the crime.

The incident unfolded after Ortiz-Chavez orchestrated a confrontation between Ruiz and Baldonado, driving them to the alley near Fifth Street and Central Avenue. This followed allegations that Ruiz had physically harmed Baldonado’s pregnant sister, whom he was dating.

Recorded jail conversations between Baldonado and Ortiz-Chavez revealed her initial willingness to confess. However, Baldonado discouraged her, suggesting that as a minor, he would face a lighter sentence if convicted. Prosecutors later argued that Ortiz-Chavez was trying to exploit her son’s age to reduce family repercussions.

The case took a significant turn in March 2023 when Baldonado’s brother divulged the truth in a Facebook chat. He recounted how Ortiz-Chavez pulled the trigger while claiming it was his brother who was wrongfully accused.

The brother voiced his outrage over the situation, expressing disdain for their mother’s actions and the impact on their family. “I have an older brother locked up because of her,” he shared, emphasizing the injustice of the situation.

The woman who received these revelations reported the details to authorities, leading to Ortiz-Chavez’s arrest. Angelo Baldonado, although initially facing murder charges, was later sentenced to four years for coordinating the fatal confrontation, having a lesser but direct involvement.

Ortiz-Chavez could face up to 18 years in prison upon sentencing, marking the end of a tragic chapter that nearly saw an innocent teenager condemned for his mother’s actions.