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

[TwinkieDefense]

Jan 6, 2025 article

How the public helped find man accused of murdering Utah woman

Law enforcement officials will tell you that the most important thing for any detective or any investigation is information

www.fox13now.com

[…]

Unified Police would not comment on the exact details that were provided by the public and if an actual tip helped the case, but they said hundreds of people commented, and not just those who took a passing interest in it, but those who knew both Benward and Rocha-Aguayo, who was arrested Sunday.

[…]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced six felony charges filed against Nestor Rocha Aguayo, including aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping charges, for his alleged connection to the disappearance and death of a woman he had been in a relationship with, T.B.,” says a news release issued by the DA’s Office

Salt Lake Co. DA files kidnapping, murder charges against man in death of ex-girlfriend | Gephardt Daily

A man arrested this month after his ex-girlfriend, Talia Benward of Kearns, was found deceased and hidden in Tooele County has now been formally charged with kidnapping and murder.

gephardtdaily.com

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 14, 2025

https://www.abc4.com/news/crime/charges-filed-against-murder-suspect-in-death-of-talia-benward/

On Jan. 2, 2025, Benward’s ex-boyfriend contacted the Unified Police Department saying she had borrowed his white Volkswagon Jetta but had not returned it, according to court documents. Benward’s father called Unified Police later in the day saying she had been missing for over a day and the family could not get in touch with her. Her ex-boyfriend then contacted police again saying he found threatening Instagram messages between Benward and Rocha-Aguayo and asked for his car to be listed as missing.

Charges filed against man who tried to flee to Mexico after disappearance, death of woman

Charges have been filed against the man allegedly connected to the disappearance and death ofTalia Benward.Nestor Rocha-Aguayo was charged on Tuesday withone

kmyu.tv

UPD said the Jetta was found at "a location associated with [Rocha-Aguayo]" with blood, a missing floor mat, and a "strong smell of gasoline in the trunk."

Surveillance footage showed Rocha-Aguayo getting into the Jetta Benward was driving.

Ex-boyfriend of woman found discarded in Tooele County charged with aggravated murder

A man who police say brutally killed his ex-girlfriend, dumped her body in Tooele County, then tried to flee to Mexico on a bus was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder.

www.ksl.com

Nestor Oved Rocha-Aguayo, 24, is charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felonies; three counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and abuse or desecration of a dead body, a third-degree felony.

Police say Rocha-Aguayo was living in West Valley City when he was deported on Dec. 24. He returned to Utah less than a week later.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

She and Aguayo “were in a relationship that was described as toxic” and had “a history of domestic violence between them,” according to a court filing.

Police eventually found the car “at a location associated with (Aguayo),” and it had “blood throughout” it, plus a floor mat that was missing and “a strong smell of gasoline in the trunk,” prosecutors said.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article298580153.html

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A cadaver dog helped find Benward, who died from “a mix of asphyxiation and blunt force trauma,” prosecutors said.

https://www.thestate.com/news/nation-world/national/article298580153.html

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 18, 2025

Low-rider community gathers in honor of Kearns woman allegedly murdered by ex-boyfriend

On Saturday afternoon, the low-rider community that Talia Benward was a part of got together to show support for her family.

www.fox13now.com

"She really loved the low-rider culture so we're doing this for her," said Hernandez.

"We're going to have one last cruise for her out of respect because she was always there for the low-riders, and now low-riders want to be there for her," said Hernandez.

JAN 19, 2025

https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/fundraiser-family-talia-benward/

More than 20 local vendors came together on Sunday, Jan. 19, to raise funds for the Benward family. Each vendor will be donating either part or all of their proceeds to the family. Furthermore, hundreds of community members came to share their own experiences dealing with domestic violence in hopes to raise awareness.