Shivangi Sinha
In December 2020, Taiz Cruz was arrested on charges of aggravated robbery after an Ohio woman identified her as the person who had broken into her home and physically assaulted her in front of her child. The arrest marked the beginning of a complex legal process as more pieces of the story started to come together. Taiz quickly retained a legal defense team to guide her through the challenging months ahead. Though initially facing serious charges, her case eventually moved forward under a lesser charge, and she stood trial accordingly. The events surrounding the case, including the emotional and legal fallout, have been explored in A&E’s ‘Accused: Guilty or Innocent?’ in an episode titled ‘After the Verdict: Taiz.’
Taiz Cruz Was Arrested For Assaulting a Woman in Front of the Latter’s Child
Taiz Cruz spent most of her life in Columbus, Ohio, and had always shared a close and loving bond with her mother, Betzy Vega. The latter remained her strongest support system and confidante. While her upbringing was filled with care, Taiz grew up in an underserved community where opportunities were not always easy to come by. Despite these challenges, she was determined to build a meaningful life for herself. Her hard work paid off when she became a registered nurse, a role she took on with pride and commitment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she even served as an emergency responder. Alongside her medical career, she also developed skills as a tattoo artist and expressed her creativity while continuing to lead a law-abiding and focused life.
By December 2020, Taiz had moved into a home with a friend who was going through a divorce. This friend shared custody of a child with his ex-wife, but it was alleged that she had been preventing him from seeing the child. On December 25, 2020, a similar situation unfolded and he was reportedly denied access to his child once again. He contacted law enforcement for help, but they were unable to take action as the woman did not open the door. Later that evening, around 9 pm, the woman called the police herself, claiming that two masked individuals had broken into her home by smashing a rear window.
According to the woman, the intruders physically assaulted both her and her grandmother in front of the child before fleeing the scene. She claimed to recognize one of them as Taiz Cruz and stated that the mask had fallen off during the attack, which had revealed her identity. Police began searching for Taiz but were unable to locate her at the residence. The following day, she was in New Mexico for a job when she was involved in a car accident and requested assistance. It was during this encounter that she was identified and subsequently charged with first-degree assault. She was arrested and spent 27 days in the county jail.
Taiz Cruz Might Still be on Probation Today
After her release, Taiz Cruz assembled a legal defense team and maintained that she had nothing to do with the attack. Initially, her mother claimed that her daughter had been with her the entire evening, but under closer questioning, she admitted that Taiz had briefly gone out to the store. This created a window of opportunity during which the crime could have occurred, leaving Taiz without a solid alibi. In addition to this, the prosecution presented other witnesses, including the woman’s grandmother, who also identified her as one of the intruders. While the case appeared to be stacked against her, Taiz’s attorney was ultimately able to negotiate a plea deal and reduce the charge to a single count of trespassing in a habitation.
In 2023, Taiz prepared for her sentencing and delivered an emotional statement in court. She expressed deep remorse and apologized to both the victim’s family and her own for the emotional pain caused by her actions. Given that she had no prior convictions, the judge sentenced her to 90 days in jail and two years of probation. Since she had already served 27 days, she completed the remaining 63 days but later described the jail conditions and food as “unbearable.” Her mother picked her up upon release, and Taiz immediately met with her probation officer. As part of her probation, she was prohibited from using drugs, possessing weapons, or leaving the state without prior approval. Her legal team may have shortened her probation, but if not, she’s likely still serving it. Taiz appears to be living quietly in Columbus, Ohio, and has been keeping a low profile as she moves forward with her life.
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