Cold Case Suspect Arrested After 29 Years, Aided by “America’s Most Wanted” Rerun

Champaign Urbana & Springfield Decatur, IL, September 30, 2026 —

A suspect in a decades-old fatal hit-and-run case has been arrested, with law enforcement crediting a rerun of the television show America’s Most Wanted for providing the crucial lead.

Gerardo Garcia-Michel was apprehended in New Jersey in connection with the death of Leslie Ruby, an incident that occurred 29 years ago in 1997. Des Moines, Iowa police were the lead investigators on the cold case.

The break in the investigation reportedly came after a rerun of America’s Most Wanted featured the case. The broadcast led to tips that eventually identified Garcia-Michel as the suspect. Details regarding the specific episode, the exact date of the rerun, or the nature of the tips received were not immediately available.

Leslie Ruby died as a result of a hit-and-run incident that took place in 1997. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent investigation over the years were not detailed in the information provided.

Following the identification of Garcia-Michel, authorities in New Jersey, in coordination with the Des Moines Police Department, took him into custody. Information regarding the legal proceedings, including potential extradition to Iowa or charges filed, was not provided.

The arrest highlights how cold cases, sometimes decades old, can be revived through public appeals and persistent investigative efforts. The duration between the incident and the arrest, spanning nearly three decades, underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving such cases, as well as the impact of media assistance in bringing closure.

Story summarized from the original created by KCRG Staff, Gray News staff on www.wandtv.com, see more information here.

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