On April 8, 2021, 32-year-old Jessica Ann Chavez was found deceased in her bedroom at an apartment on the 1700 block of Brazil Avenue in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Officers responded to a shooting call around 6:15 a.m. and discovered Chavez with a gunshot wound to the chest; she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators identified 24-year-old Ervin Eduardo Nafate Ruiz as the primary suspect in Chavez's death.
Ruiz, who had been in a relationship with Chavez for over a year, was arrested on April 9, 2021, in Poteau, Oklahoma, and charged with first-degree murder.
According to Chavez's sister, Myda, the couple had a history of domestic violence. She reported that Ruiz had previously threatened Chavez with a firearm and had been physically abusive during her pregnancy. Despite these incidents, Chavez had not filed official police reports against him.
Chavez had recently given birth to a baby girl, who was hospitalized due to complications from the delivery. The infant's condition was reported as stable following the incident.
Ruiz was apprehended by the Poteau Police Department after the Fort Smith Police Department disseminated his information to other area law enforcement agencies. He was later transported to the Sebastian County Detention Center in Arkansas.
Chavez's family expressed their grief and shock over her death, highlighting the impact of domestic violence on their lives. They have since initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses.
As of December 2024, there have been no further updates regarding the legal proceedings against Ervin Eduardo Nafate Ruiz.
