RIVERDALE, Utah — Two children were safely recovered hours after an AMBER Alert was issued when their father, suspected of homicide and arson, allegedly abducted them following a deadly fire in Weber County.
The incident unfolded late on a Friday afternoon when the Riverdale Fire Department responded to a house fire at the Riverdale Manufactured Home Community, located at 5100 South 1050 West. Upon extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered the body of a woman inside the home. Authorities later confirmed the victim was the children’s mother, but the whereabouts of her two young children and their father, Ricardo Rojel Trujillo, 29, remained unknown.
Following the discovery of the woman’s death, police issued an AMBER Alert after determining that the children, 2-year-old Angie Trujillo and 3-year-old Ricardo Trujillo, had been abducted by their father. Police officials expressed grave concern for the children’s safety, believing they were at immediate risk of serious bodily harm or death.
An intense search ensued, with law enforcement agencies working to locate the suspect and the children. The search culminated several hours later when, around 8 p.m., the children were found safe at Springville Canyon, approximately 40 miles south of the scene. Authorities also located Trujillo, who was taken into custody without further incident.
The children were immediately placed into family custody, and interviews were conducted to determine their well-being. While details of their condition were not disclosed, it was confirmed that they were unharmed and reunited with relatives.
Trujillo, a 29-year-old male described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and black eyes, was believed to be driving a white Ford F150 truck. The vehicle, which was detailed in the AMBER Alert, bore a Utah license plate with the number 8BSC6 and was described as having gray or black trim around the bottom of the doors and wheel wells. A business logo reading “ANV” was also visible on the tailgate, along with a phone number of 801-920-6397.
Authorities have not yet released further details on the investigation, but Trujillo remains a suspect in both the homicide and arson case, as well as the abduction of his two children.
Riverdale Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. Individuals who may have witnessed any suspicious activity or have details relevant to the case are encouraged to contact the Riverdale Police Department at 801-394-6616 or dial 911.
The swift response by both local law enforcement and the public helped ensure the safe recovery of the children, but officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death and the suspect’s actions.