A Mexican illegal immigrant suspected of murdering his girlfriend in Utah was deported in December but reentered Utah shortly before her body was discovered in Tooele.
Talia Benward, 31, from Kearns, was last seen at a Maverik store in West Jordan on New Year’s Day around 3:15 p.m. Her body was later found in a remote area of Tooele, approximately a 45-minute drive from West Jordan.
The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake revealed on Sunday that Benward’s boyfriend, Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, a 24-year-old from Sinaloa, Mexico, had been taken into custody in connection with her disappearance and murder.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Aguayo-Rocha is a Mexican national who was twice removed from the United States.
Detectives later found blood stains inside the vehicle the couple had been driving in together. When they located Benward’s remains covered in sticks behind some brush in a remote area of the interstate in Tooele, they also located the remnants of a floor mat that matched the floor mats inside the vehicle the couple was driving.
U.S. Marshals arrested Rocha-Aguayo on Jan. 5 on charges of aggravated murder, abuse or desecration of a dead human being, aggravated robbery, and other charges. ERO placed a detainer with Salt Lake County Metro Jail the same day. (The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake )
Court documents show his prior charges from last year include robbery, aggravated assault, property damage, two counts of possession with intent to distribute, failure to stop at the command of a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, interfering with a peace officer, operating a vehicle on an unopen street, burglary, assault and unlawful detention.
He was also involved in multiple domestic violence incidents with Benward.
Police are investigating Benward’s death as a homicide and asking anyone with information to send tips to 801-840-4000. Please reference case CO25-473. Tips can remain anonymous.
