Ogden, UT – A woman who had been missing for several days was found dead in a remote area of Tooele County, Utah, early Saturday morning. Authorities have identified the victim as 31-year-old Talia Benward, whose body was discovered after an intensive search in harsh conditions.
Benward was reported missing by her family on Thursday, sparking a large-scale investigation. Unified Police Department, along with U.S. Marshals, launched a manhunt for her ex-boyfriend, 24-year-old Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, of West Valley City, who is suspected of being involved in her disappearance.
“As the investigation developed and evidence was gathered, it became evident that Talia Benward was either being held against her will by a violent ex-boyfriend or was deceased,” police said in a statement.
The search for Rocha-Aguayo led officers to Fillmore on Sunday evening, where he was apprehended on a bus heading to Mexico. Police confirmed that he was arrested without incident.
Meanwhile, authorities began combing through a large, remote area of Tooele County on Saturday morning, where they believed Benward might be located. The search, conducted in near-total darkness and freezing temperatures, involved K-9 teams from Salt Lake City and Weber County. By 5:20 a.m. Saturday, they located her body in a densely wooded area.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Benward may have suffered blunt force trauma and injuries to her neck. Authorities have confirmed that her death is being treated as a homicide.
“We’re grateful that we could bring this person into custody safely. Our detectives will continue to work diligently on this case,” said Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race.
As the investigation continues, police have emphasized the importance of public cooperation in gathering further information about Rocha-Aguayo and the events leading up to Benward’s death.