WILMINGTON, N.C. — A grand jury has added new charges against a Marine accused of assaulting a young woman in an incident that has left her undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Isaac Ruiz, 26, now faces an attempted first-degree murder charge in connection with the severe injuries sustained by 22-year-old Savannah Johnson during a violent attack in June.
Initial charges against Ruiz included robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The new indictment, filed in late August, brings the total number of allegations against him to six, which also encompass assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and first-degree burglary. Ruiz is being held at the New Hanover County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond as he awaits trial.
The incident, which began as an aggravated assault investigation, has evolved significantly since Johnson was found critically injured at a residence in the Talon Court neighborhood. Reports indicate that she suffered fractures to her neck and upper back and sustained damage to the blood vessels in her neck, leading to paralysis from the neck down. While her recovery has been arduous, Johnson is currently receiving treatment at a spinal rehabilitation facility and has regained some mobility and sensation after being initially hospitalized.
Johnson had recently completed her degree at Northern Michigan University, with aspirations of becoming an artist. She traveled to Wilmington with hopes of exploring new career opportunities. Instead of embarking on a fresh chapter in her life, she has faced significant medical challenges following the attack.
According to her father, Ricky Johnson, Savannah had previously met Ruiz during a date arranged with another couple. He indicated that Savannah did not reciprocate Ruiz’s romantic interest, leading the family to speculate that this rejection may have played a role in the subsequent violence, although law enforcement has not confirmed a motive.
The investigation into Johnson’s assault initially pointed to another individual, but charges were dropped when evidence proved that individual’s alibi. It wasn’t until Ruiz was arrested on June 24 that authorities began to build a case against him, relying on continued interviews, evidence analysis, and surveillance footage. Recently, investigators obtained search warrants for Ruiz’s iPhone and vehicle, yet officials remain tight-lipped regarding any findings from those searches.
An unexpected twist in the case emerged when an online fundraising campaign created to support Johnson’s medical expenses listed a $2,000 donation from someone named Isaac Ruiz, raising questions about the contributor’s identity. Law enforcement has not confirmed whether the donation came from Ruiz himself, leaving both the family and police without answers on that front.
As Johnson’s family navigates her recovery, they remain focused on her rehabilitation. Initially dependent on a ventilator and experiencing severe impairment, she has made strides in regaining movement, particularly in her arms and legs. Her parents have expressed admiration for her determination to overcome the challenges posed by her injuries, emphasizing the impact of small milestones in her rehabilitation, particularly her ability to use her hands again for artistic endeavors.
Ruiz’s legal proceedings are ongoing, with a recent hearing scheduled for October 12. Though he remains detained, he faces increased scrutiny following the grand jury’s expanded charges, which hinge on proving additional elements of attempted murder and robbery. The case will continue to unfold in the courts, while Johnson and her family concentrate on her long road to recovery, supported by community fundraising efforts aimed at assisting with her medical needs.