In a chilling incident in Gallatin, a man is facing first-degree murder charges after allegedly beating his girlfriend's husband to death. Gallatin Police found 65-year-old Stephen Thomas deceased in his home on the 100 block of West Hite Street, after responding to the scene in the early morning hours of May 17. According to an affidavit cited by WSMV, a broken glass mug and a red/brown brick, believed to be the murder weapons, were found near Thomas' body.
Investigation revealed that Thomas' wife had recently been released from the Sumner County Jail when she discovered her husband's body. She had been planning to quickly visit a local hospital for treatment the day before her arrest, but was taken into custody for a probation violation warrant. In a statement obtained by WKRN, the woman mentioned meeting Daniel Jovanny Ruiz, 29, her alleged romantic partner, post-release, and finding him covered in blood. Ruiz is accused of sending an Uber for her earlier, which she never got to use due to the arrest.
Surveillance cameras captured footage of Ruiz, who reportedly had blood on his mouth and hands, in the vicinity where the crime occurred. According to police documents, video evidence from the morning of May 17 showed Ruiz wearing bloodstained clothes as he walked on West Hite Street. The family of the victim is mourning the loss, with the victim's son, Aaron Thomas, saying, "He had fallen asleep on the couch with the door open, waiting for his wife to come home. I think the guy entered the home and just did this to him" in an interview with NewsChannel 5.
The connection between the suspect's apparent intent and the actual murder is solidified by witness statements, including one claiming Ruiz had declared his plan to "Go beat up Stephen Thomas because Stephen was responsible for [Thomas’ wife] going to jail earlier that day." This statement was mentioned in the WSMV report. When Gallatin officers arrived at Ruiz's address around 7 a.m., they found him with a laceration on his chest and bloody knuckles, suggesting he had been in a fight. Ruiz, wearing the same pants seen in the video footage, confirmed to the officers he was in a fight roughly five hours before, aligning with the timeline of the murder.
Ruiz remains detained in the Sumner County Jail, held without bond.
