Investigation Underway After Venezuelan Woman Found Dead in Utah

Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, a 43-year-old Venezuelan woman, was found dead inside her husband Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas' camp trailer at a storage facility in Draper, Utah, on March 3, 2023. The Saratoga Springs Police Department announced that the case has been reclassified as a homicide investigation following the discovery of her body. Urbina Rojas, 57, is now considered a person of interest and is believed to have fled to California after the couple was reported missing on February 26, 2023. Family members had last seen the couple when Urbina Rojas drove Vitola to work, but she never arrived.

The Independent

Vitola and Urbina Rojas immigrated to the United States from Venezuela approximately ten years ago and were well-known within Utah's Venezuelan community. They had recently celebrated the opening of their food truck, Rica Arepa, in Midvale. According to Police Chief Andrew Burton, the couple had been married for nearly 20 years and had two children. Family members initially expressed concerns about the couple's well-being, fearing they may have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), although a police check ruled out this possibility.

The Independent

The couple's disappearance prompted family members to request a welfare check after Vitola failed to show up for work. Police executed a search warrant on the trailer owned by Urbina Rojas, where they discovered Vitola's body. The investigation revealed that Urbina Rojas' vehicle, a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia, was captured on surveillance cameras in various locations, including Cedar City, St. George, and Las Vegas, on the day the couple went missing. The vehicle was last seen in Southern California.

The Independent

Members of the local Venezuelan community expressed shock and sadness over the incident. Fernando Colmenares, a community member, noted that the couple appeared happy and successful just weeks prior. "Things looked very normal," he stated, emphasizing the community's devastation over the loss. Police have described Urbina Rojas as 5'9" tall, weighing 193 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and are actively seeking public assistance in locating him.

The Independent

While the investigation continues, some community members have raised concerns about the potential implications of ICE involvement in the case, given the couple's immigration status. However, police have clarified that there is no evidence to suggest that ICE was involved in their disappearance.

The Independent

• “The trailer was then processed as a crime scene, and the Medical Examiner’s office was notified,” — Andrew Burton, Police Chief

The Independent

• “Though we only met them briefly, they looked happy and we were all really happy for them, to see their progress as Venezuelans.” — Fernando Colmenares, Community Member

The Independent

Authorities are continuing their search for Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas and are coordinating with local law enforcement in California. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts or the vehicle is urged to contact the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

The Independent