Found Deceased UT - Talia Benward, 31- of Kearns, UT - Last Seen at Maverick Gas Station, 1 Jan 2025 *POI*

[Knox]

“Police are asking if anyone knows where she is to please call into dispatch at 801-840-4000 and reference case CO25-473,” a social media post from Unified Police states. “We would greatly appreciate the information in locating her.”

https://www.abc4.com/news/missing-in-utah/missing-31-year-old-woman-out-of-kearns/

 

[Knox]

Didn't find any social media, but Talia has a business filing in Utah - Valley Permanent By Talia LLC

 

[tarabull]

View attachment 555915

“Police are asking if anyone knows where she is to please call into dispatch at 801-840-4000 and reference case CO25-473,” a social media post from Unified Police states. “We would greatly appreciate the information in locating her.”

https://www.abc4.com/news/missing-in-utah/missing-31-year-old-woman-out-of-kearns/

Where did she work? IT could be relevant...

Was she "on-the-clock"? Going to or coming from work???? Or on a break?....Any of those, or just sporting a "STAFF" t-shirt???

Snipped...
...She was reportedly last seen wearing jeans and a black t-shirt that reads “STAFF” on the back.

 

[GraceG]

Didn't find any social media, but Talia has a business filing in Utah - Valley Permanent By Talia LLC

If you search FB, family/friends have posted a description of her car including (unverified) license number. Checking to see if that pops up in msm soon.

 

[Knox]

Where did she work? IT could be relevant...

Was she "on-the-clock"? Going to or coming from work???? Or on a break?....Any of those, or just sporting a "STAFF" t-shirt???

Snipped...
...She was reportedly last seen wearing jeans and a black t-shirt that reads “STAFF” on the back.

A friend who works with her stated they work in a youth psych facility together. Doesn't sound like that's related to her going missing though, JMO.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

It became evident Talia Benward was either being held against her will by a violent ex-boyfriend or was deceased,” a press release from UPD states.

“Preliminarily, it appears the victim may have suffered from blunt force trauma and trauma to her neck area,” the release states. “The Unified Police Department is investigating the death of Talia Benward as a homicide.”

Unified Police said they have a person of interest at this time. That individual is identified as Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah.

Police have released a photo of Rocha-Aguayo, seen below, and are seeking the public’s help in locating him.

SUSPECT: Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah

https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/missing-woman-found-dead-homicide/

 

[Knox]

I had a suspicion this would be a DV situation, but not that she would be found dead

Nothing on his page, but here it is.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake​

The Unified Police Department is asking for your help in locating Nestor Rocha-Aguayo out of West Valley City, Utah. We are asking if you know of his whereabouts to contact the Unified Police Department.

This comes after our search for missing Talia Benward, where we are now currently investigating this case as a homicide.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Talia Benward and we would ask everyone in the community to band together to help locate him.

If you have any information call 801-840-4000 please reference case CO25-473.
TIPS CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS

 

[Knox]

Nestor Rocha Aguayo​

Offense Date​

Nov 6, 2023

Charges/Offenses​

unlawful detention | violation of a jra/jail release court order - misd a arrest | property damage/destruction - loss < $500 | intoxication | federal detainees - interstate agreement | failure to stop or respond at command of police | assault | stalking | harassment | reckless driving | robbery | burglary of a dwelling | violation of a protective order

Not sure if this is related to Talia or not? Charges on the above appear to be filed on 8/17/24.

 

[Knox]

Police searching for person of interest after missing woman found dead

Police are looking for a man they believe to be a person of interest in an active homicide investigation after they found the body of a missing woman.

ksltv.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

Missing Kearns woman found dead, police seeking person of interest

A 31-year-old Kearns woman who was reported missing on Jan. 2, 2025, has been found dead, according to Unified Police. Her death is being investigated as a homicide and police have identified a person of interest in the case.

www.yahoo.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

Nothing much on his FB

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[PommyMommy]

The suspect was found in Fillmore UT on a bus headed to Mexico.

JAN 5, 2024

Suspect in death of missing Utah woman apprehended​

 

[CrimeSlog]

Glad they got him before he made it to Mexico but so sad for her family that this is how their new year has begun

 

[Knox]

The suspect was found in Fillmore UT on a bus headed to Mexico.

JAN 5, 2024

Suspect in death of missing Utah woman apprehended​

So I guess the charges from 2023 were DV against Talia. May justice be swift and her family spared a painful trial. Thankful he was caught and won’t be able to hurt another woman.

 

[truthfinder2019]

so the narcissist coward was escaping as usual, excellent job LE to catch him so rapidly.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 6, 2024

Person of interest in West Valley homicide now in police custody

Police are searching for a 24-year-old man who is a person of interest in an active homicide investigation.

kslnewsradio.com

Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department said 24-year-old Nestor Rocha-Aguayo was apprehended in Fillmore. Police said he was on a bus heading to Mexico at the time.

KSL found records of multiple incidents of domestic violence involving Rocha-Aguayo and Benward.

When asked about the suspect’s immigration status, Race could not specify his status but said one thing investigators were “looking at” was “aggravated reentry.”

 

[Knox]

JAN 6, 2024

Person of interest in West Valley homicide now in police custody

Police are searching for a 24-year-old man who is a person of interest in an active homicide investigation.

kslnewsradio.com

Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department said 24-year-old Nestor Rocha-Aguayo was apprehended in Fillmore. Police said he was on a bus heading to Mexico at the time.

KSL found records of multiple incidents of domestic violence involving Rocha-Aguayo and Benward.

When asked about the suspect’s immigration status, Race could not specify his status but said one thing investigators were “looking at” was “aggravated reentry.”

I saw a previous charge on IS but didn’t mention because it wasn’t clear what the outcome was. This guy is young, be interesting to see what his history is.

What’s not clear is whether there was still an active RO and if the relationship continued after his previous arrest.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 6, 2025

Murder suspect had returned to Utah less than a week after being deported

The man accused of killing an ex-girlfriend whose body was discovered in Tooele County over the weekend had recently returned to Utah after being deported from the country just the week before

www.fox13now.com

The man accused of killing an ex-girlfriend whose body was discovered in a remote area of Tooele County over the weekend had recently returned to Utah after being deported from the country just the week before, according to new information discovered in arrest documents.

Lengthy article with detailed information from the affidavit:

Utah murder suspect deported from US, returned 6 days later

A man suspected of killing his girlfriend in Utah was deported six days before he allegedly left her body in a remote area of Tooele County.

ksltv.com

Investigators reported that Rocha-Aguayo’s phone traveled to an address in Kearns. When detectives arrived at the address, they found the missing car and noticed human blood on the outside of the back passenger door.

“A warrant was obtained to search the vehicle and more blood was located in the back rear passenger seat, on the back passenger door and on the floor,” the affidavit stated. “Detectives also noticed the floor mat was missing on the back passenger floor, but the other mats in the car were not missing.”

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 6, 2025

Ex-boyfriend of missing Salt Lake woman arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder

Nestor Oved Rocha-Aguayo, 24, was arrested Sunday night and booked into Salt Lake County Jail early Monday for investigation of aggravated murder and other crimes.

www.ksl.com

A police K-9 searching the area around the burn pit led officers to "what appeared to be a large pile of sagebrush and strategically stacked sticks. Upon closer inspection, the body of a deceased female was able to be seen. The female was later positively identified as Talia Benward," according to the affidavit.

Investigators observed "substantial trauma" to Benward's face and neck.