Riverdale, Utah — A young woman’s tragic death has brought to light the dire need for stronger policies and funding to combat domestic violence in Utah. Mayra Catalan-Dimas, 23, was fatally stabbed by her abuser, 30-year-old Ricardo Trujillo-Rojel, before he allegedly set their trailer on fire and fled with their two children. An AMBER Alert was issued for Trujillo-Rojel, who remains on the run.
This incident is the latest in a series of domestic violence-related homicides that have rocked the state in recent years, shining a spotlight on systemic issues in how domestic abuse cases are handled and prosecuted. Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran uncovered police body camera footage from a previous encounter between Trujillo-Rojel and Catalan-Dimas that underscores the escalating violence. In this earlier encounter, Trujillo-Rojel was seen strangling Catalan-Dimas, a dangerous form of abuse that is often linked to lethal outcomes.
During a 2019 police interaction, when asked about the abuse, Trujillo-Rojel denied any physical altercation that day, despite Catalan-Dimas’s account of the brutal attack. She told officers that Trujillo-Rojel had grabbed her by the neck and strangled her for hours, and she was only able to escape after pretending she needed to use the bathroom. At the time, Catalan-Dimas was 19 years old and 14 weeks pregnant.
The earlier attack highlights a critical pattern: domestic violence can often escalate to the point of homicide, particularly when strangulation is involved. Erin Jemison, Director of Public Policy for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, notes that strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future lethal violence. This makes it all the more heartbreaking that legislative efforts to address these issues have fallen short.
In the 2025 legislative session, Jemison’s organization pushed for funding to support vital programs aimed at combating domestic violence, including $1.4 million for programs that provide emergency support for victims. One key request was $260,000 to fund strangulation forensic exams, which can provide crucial evidence for prosecutors in cases of domestic violence. However, these requests were denied by lawmakers, leaving a gap in the resources available to law enforcement and victims alike.
Strangulation forensic exams are critical because they offer objective, medical evidence of abuse that can be used in court, reducing reliance on the victim’s testimony, which can be difficult and traumatizing for many survivors. Without the proper funding to conduct these exams, law enforcement is unable to gather necessary evidence, and perpetrators often go unpunished.
“We know that prosecutors need that strangulation exam evidence,” Jemison said, emphasizing how vital it is for holding abusers accountable. “If the prosecutor has objective evidence that doesn’t all depend on a victim’s testimony, that is one way to solve a really entrenched issue of it being difficult to prosecute domestic violence crimes.”
Despite these pressing needs, lawmakers have been reluctant to allocate funds for these crucial services, citing a multitude of budget requests. This has led to frustration among domestic violence advocates, who argue that the lack of funding for critical programs is contributing to a cycle of violence that disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children.
The case of Mayra Catalan-Dimas is a tragic reminder of the consequences of ignoring domestic violence as a serious societal issue. While advocates continue to push for change, it remains clear that without stronger legislative action and dedicated funding, many more lives will be at risk.
As law enforcement continues its search for Trujillo-Rojel, the incident has sparked renewed calls for systemic reform. Advocates are urging policymakers to prioritize funding for domestic violence prevention, victim support services, and forensic exams in the next legislative session to help prevent future tragedies.
The death of Catalan-Dimas, like so many before it, underscores the urgent need for better resources and greater attention to the reality of domestic violence in Utah and across the country. The fight for justice, protection, and resources for victims continues, but as this case tragically proves, time is running out for those who are caught in violent relationships.