Ogden, UT – A tragic sequence of events unfolded in Riverdale, Utah, on Monday afternoon, resulting in the death of a woman, the issuance of an Amber Alert, and the subsequent arrest of the woman’s partner, Ricardo Trujillo Rojel. Trujillo, 29, is now facing serious charges, including aggravated murder and aggravated arson, following the discovery of the victim’s body with severe burns and a puncture wound at a trailer in the area.
Discovery of the Crime
The incident began just before 2:30 p.m. when local first responders arrived at the scene of a fire near 5100 South and 1050 West in Riverdale. Officers found a trailer filled with smoke and an open door. After announcing their presence, they entered the trailer to search for potential victims. Inside, they discovered the woman with extensive burns. As the officers moved her outside, they noticed a puncture wound on her neck, which appeared to have been caused by a sharp object. Investigators quickly determined that the woman had died from homicide.
Authorities discovered that the fire had been intentionally set using an accelerant, and a gas can was found inside the trailer. Additionally, a pair of blood-stained jeans was located in the home, further adding to the mounting evidence pointing to foul play.
The Search for the Children
As investigators worked to identify the victim, they learned that she had two young children. According to her parents, the woman and her partner, Trujillo, had planned to move out of the trailer and relocate to Roy that day. The victim’s mother told officers that her daughter had returned to the trailer after receiving a call from Trujillo. The last known sighting of the woman, Trujillo, and the children was at the trailer that morning.
Around 5:14 p.m., an Amber Alert was issued across Utah, providing a description of the children and Trujillo, along with details of his truck. A few hours later, authorities traced the truck’s license plate to Spanish Fork. A local citizen reported spotting the vehicle parked in a canyon, with a man walking alongside two young children. Law enforcement quickly mobilized and located Trujillo and the children in Hobble Creek Canyon. Trujillo was arrested after allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. Blood was discovered inside his truck, adding to the evidence against him.
Trujillo’s Criminal History
Trujillo’s arrest marks the latest in a troubling pattern of domestic violence offenses. In 2021, he faced charges of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping after the victim in this case reported that Trujillo had strangled her while she was pregnant with his child. The woman told police she struggled to breathe as Trujillo choked her, accusing her of infidelity. He also physically assaulted her by punching her in the nose and preventing her from leaving the room.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Trujillo was sentenced to 180 days in jail for assault, a class A misdemeanor. However, the jail time was suspended, and he was placed on probation. The court also issued a no-contact order, although Trujillo was allowed to attend the birth of their child. In January of this year, Trujillo was arrested again on domestic violence charges after he broke into the victim’s home, damaged property, and was found with crystal meth.
The Role of Strangulation in Domestic Violence
Domestic violence experts have long warned about the dangerous pattern exhibited by abusers like Trujillo. Kimmi Wolf, with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, emphasized the alarming connection between strangulation and future lethal violence. “If you are wanting to strangle someone, you are possibly looking them in the eye, you are seeing them gasp for breath, and you are continuing this behavior,” Wolf stated. “That is a level of violent intimacy that is such a strong indicator of future harm and possibly lethality.”
The issue of strangulation in domestic violence cases has become a major point of concern, especially following the recent legislative session in Utah. Despite the increasing recognition of strangulation as a significant predictor of future homicide, the state’s lawmakers chose not to allocate funding for specialized strangulation exams for victims. These exams not only provide critical evidence for prosecuting perpetrators but also offer essential medical care to survivors.
The Need for Change
Wolf expressed disappointment at the failure of lawmakers to address this critical issue. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Both in terms of myself as an individual and as a professional in this field.” The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition has been forced to seek alternative sources of funding to meet the growing demand for these exams, which are crucial in both preventing further harm and aiding the prosecution of violent offenders.
As the case against Trujillo progresses, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by repeat offenders in domestic violence situations. With each new incident, the call for more resources to protect victims and prevent future tragedies becomes all the more urgent.