Tragic Discovery in Draper Storage Facility
A Venezuelan immigrant couple who vanished from their Utah community last week has become the focus of a homicide investigation after the wife was found dead and her husband fled the state. Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, 43, was discovered deceased inside her husband's camp trailer at a Draper storage facility on Tuesday, according to the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
Initial Fears of ICE Detention
When the couple first disappeared on February 26, family members and friends initially feared they might have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Police Chief Andrew Burton confirmed that a welfare check ruled out this possibility, but the community's concern highlighted the anxiety many immigrants experience regarding enforcement agencies.
The search began when Genes Vitola failed to arrive at work. Her husband, Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, 57, had reportedly left their home around 10:15 a.m. to drive her to work, but she never appeared at her workplace. That same evening, concerned relatives requested the welfare check that would eventually lead to the grim discovery.
From Missing Persons to Homicide Investigation
Authorities executed a search warrant at Urbina Rojas' camp trailer on Monday, where they discovered Genes Vitola's body. The trailer was immediately processed as a crime scene, and the Medical Examiner's office was notified. An autopsy has been completed, though full results remain pending.
Family members had actually attempted to search the same trailer on Saturday but found it locked and were unable to locate either individual. Following the discovery of Genes Vitola's body, the case was reclassified from a missing persons investigation to a homicide investigation.
Husband Becomes Person of Interest
Police have now designated Urbina Rojas as a person of interest in his wife's death. Investigators believe he fled Utah and is currently in California. His vehicle, a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia with Utah license plate T409YB, was captured on surveillance cameras in Cedar City, St. George, and Las Vegas on the day the couple disappeared.
Chief Burton revealed that credit card usage and other purchases placed Urbina Rojas in California late on the Thursday night following the disappearance. The vehicle was last seen on camera in Southern California on Monday. Border Patrol has confirmed no record of the car crossing into Mexico, leading authorities to believe Urbina Rojas remains within California.
A Community in Mourning
The couple had immigrated to Utah from Venezuela approximately ten years ago and were well-known within the state's Venezuelan community. They had recently celebrated the grand opening of their food truck, Rica Arepa, in Midvale just two weeks before their disappearance.
"Things looked very normal," Fernando Colmenares told KSL in Spanish. "Though we only met them briefly, they looked happy and we were all really happy for them, to see their progress as Venezuelans." Colmenares added that the community is devastated by the tragedy, and his heart goes out to the couple's two children.
Police Investigation Details
The case is being investigated in coordination with multiple agencies including the Draper Police Department, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Border Patrol. Police have emphasized that the couple, who had been married for 19 years, had no known history of domestic violence or serious medical issues, though there had been "some talk about divorce" according to Chief Burton.
Urbina Rojas is described as 5'9" tall, weighing 193 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities are asking for the public's assistance in locating him and his vehicle. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Llorens at the Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD case 26SS02396) at 801-766-6503 or 801-798-5600.
Detectives are currently working to determine whether Urbina Rojas has associates or contacts in California who might be assisting him. Local authorities in California have been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect and his distinctive vehicle.
