Suspect's trail cold

Police seek murder victim's close friend

JANELLE STECKLEIN

May 15, 2011

A man in the neighboring motel room heard a loud thump on the wall as Rudolph Andrew Ruiz likely writhed in extreme pain on the floor next door, still conscious as his body burned in a gasoline-fueled fire Nov. 5, 1996.

Years later, Potter-Randall Special Crimes investigators think they know who started the fire that killed the 29-year-old - his close friend, Rafael Granadas Galindo.

Investigators think Galindo purchased the gas, dumped it on or around his friend, lit the match and left as Ruiz lay on the floor burning, Special Crime Lt. Gary Trupe said.

"I don't believe they ever had a clear-cut motive," Trupe said.

It's been nearly 15 years since authorities filed a murder charge against Galindo, but the now-36-year-old has yet to be apprehended, Trupe said.

He hopes someone might be able to help investigators track down Galindo.

"There have virtually been no sightings of him," Trupe said.

He said Ruiz, who was from Las Vegas, arrived Nov. 3 1996, in Amarillo to visit Galindo. Family members said Ruiz even spent Sunday night at Galindo's home, investigators discovered.

But just a short time before his death, Ruiz checked into Room 7 of the Dean Motel, 4401 E. Interstate 40.

About 3:30 a.m., surveillance footage captured Galindo entering a Toot'n Totum convenience store about four blocks from the motel, purchase a gas can, matches and $1 worth of gas, according to the criminal complaint filed in 1996.

Trupe said the clerk recalled that Galindo said he was buying the gas "for a friend."

About 4 a.m. firefighters found Ruiz conscious but badly burned, Trupe said. Ruiz died several hours later.

Investigators found the gas can ditched in a nearby pickup and beer cans in Ruiz's room, he said.

"I don't know if they (investigators) know why he did it or how he did it," Trupe said.

Galindo never showed for his shift Nov. 5 at an Amarillo restaurant and his family told police he never went back to his parents' home, according to the complaint. He hasn't been seen since Nov. 5, and despite receiving some tips to his whereabouts, nothing has panned out, Trupe said.

Trupe said it's possible Galindo fled to Mexico or he may still be in Texas. He may be using a different name and it's possible he may occasionally come back to Amarillo, he said.

Amarillo Crime Stoppers Cpl. Sean Slover said anyone who provides information leading to Galindo's capture could receive a reward up to $1,000.

All tipsters can remain anonymous.