New Information Comes To Light In Carina Saunders' Murder Case

New information surfaced Friday following an arrest for the murder of a 19-year-old girl whose body was found nine months ago near a Bethany grocery store.

Police arrested Luis Ruiz, 37, of Oklahoma City for the brutal murder of Carina Saunders. Detectives found Saunders' body in October 2011, dismembered in a duffle bag.

Friday News 9 learned that new information from a witness helped connect Ruiz to the murder, though detectives were trying to seal court documents with the details.

Ruiz was actually arrested for larceny by the Oklahoma City police, Thursday afternoon, after he was spotted trying to steal merchandise from a Sears store in Southwest Oklahoma City. Bethany police already had the warrant to arrest Ruiz in for allegedly murdering Saunders.

7/6/2012 Related Story: More Details Released In Arrest Of Suspect In Carina Saunders' Murder

Ruiz had a lengthy criminal history before he was arrested Friday. He was previously arrested in three different states for a variety of drug-related crimes. But Friday he sat in jail facing a murder complaint without bond.

Police believe his alleged drug-related activities led to Saunders' murder that was possibly meant to scare witnesses so they would cooperate with a drug and human trafficking ring Ruiz was allegedly involved in.

7/5/2012 Related Story: Suspect Arrested For Carina Saunders Murder

Ruiz's family declined to speak with News 9 as they returned home from New Mexico.

On October 9, Saunders received threatening text messages and reported them to police. The next day she went missing and a missing persons report was filed. Then on October 11 Police arrested Luis Ruiz on drug-related charges, he later posted bond. On October 13, detectives find Carina Saunders' body dismembered in the duffle bag.

Detectives had previously looked at Ruiz in connection with the killing. He is the first person to be arrested for the murder. Several others have been arrested on drug-related charges that are allegedly connected to the case.

More on the Carina Saunders case:

6/20/2012 Related Story: Investigators Follow New Lead In Saunders' Murder Case

6/15/2012 Related Story: State To Defense: Murder Charges Days Away In Saunders Case

6/15/2012 Related Story: Attorney: Murder Charges Could Be Filed In Slaying Of Carina Saunders

2/3/2012 Related Story: Documents Shed New Light On Carina Saunders' Murder

8/13/2011 Related Story: Body Found In Duffel Bag In Bethany Field