A Venezuelan Couple Was Feared To Have Been Detained By Ice. The Wife Was Then Found Dead In Camper As Missing Husband Named Person Of Interest

When a beloved Venezuelan mates vanished from their Utah organization past week, galore of their loved ones feared that they had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Then, constabulary recovered a body.

Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, 43, was recovered dormant wrong her husband’s campy trailer astatine a retention installation successful Draper, Utah, connected Tuesday, nan Saratoga Springs Police Department announced connected Facebook this week.

Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, 57, is now considered a personification of liking successful her decease and is believed to beryllium successful California aft fleeing Utah, constabulary said. The lawsuit is being investigated successful coordination pinch nan Draper Police Department, nan FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Border Patrol.

The couple, who immigrated to Utah from Venezuela astir a decade ago, is good known successful nan state’s Venezuelan organization and had precocious celebrated nan opening of their nutrient truck, Rica Arepa, successful Midvale, according to KSL.

The hunt for nan mates began connected February 26 aft Genes Vitola grounded to show up for work. Her hubby had near location astir 10:15 a.m. to thrust her to work, but she ne'er made it.

That aforesaid night, family members requested a use check, according to Police Chief Andrew Burton who gave an update connected Monday.

Burton said that nan couple’s relatives initially did not judge they were successful danger. The couple, who had been joined for 19 years, had nary history of home unit aliases superior aesculapian issues, Burton said. He added location had been “some talk astir divorce.”

Family members were, however, concerned that nan mates whitethorn person been detained by ICE. A constabulary cheque ruled retired nan possibility, Burton confirmed.

Body recovered successful locked trailer

Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola’s assemblage was recovered connected Monday by authorities who were executing a hunt warrant astatine Urbina Rojas’ campy trailer astatine a Draper retention facility.

“The trailer was past processed arsenic a crime scene, and nan Medical Examiner’s agency was notified,” Burton said. “An autopsy was completed today, and afloat results of that autopsy are still pending.”

Family members claimed that they had attempted to hunt nan aforesaid trailer connected Saturday but “did not find either party, uncovering nan trailer locked,” constabulary said.

Following nan find of Genes Vitola’s body, nan lawsuit was instantly reclassified arsenic a homicide investigation.

Husband believed to beryllium successful California

Investigators opportunity Urbina Rojas’ vehicle, a 2005 grey Toyota Sequoia, was captured connected conveyance cameras successful Cedar City, St. George and Las Vegas connected nan time nan mates went missing, though footage did not uncover who was inside.

“Use of in installments cards and different purchases besides showed up precocious successful nan evening that Thursday nighttime successful California,” Burton said. The car was past seen connected camera successful Southern California connected Monday.

“We are alerting section authorities successful California,” Burton said, adding that detectives are moving to find whether Urbina Rojas has associates aliases contacts there.

Burton emphasized that Border Patrol has nary grounds of nan car crossing into Mexico and believes Urbina Rojas is still successful California.

‘Things looked very normal’

Members of Utah’s Venezuelan organization opportunity nan mates appeared happy conscionable 2 weeks agone erstwhile they held nan expansive opening of their nutrient truck.

“Things looked very normal,” Fernando Colmenares told KSL successful Spanish. He added that nan organization is devastated. “Though we only met them briefly, they looked happy and we were each really happy for them, to spot their advancement arsenic Venezuelans.”

Colmenares added that his bosom is pinch nan couple’s 2 children.

How to help

Urbina Rojas is described arsenic 5’9” tall, 193 pounds, pinch achromatic hairsbreadth and brownish eyes.

His conveyance is described arsenic a 2005 grey Toyota Sequoia pinch Utah licence sheet T409YB (Utah Arches style plate).

Police opportunity they do not judge he has near nan state and are asking for nan public’s thief successful locating him.

Anyone pinch accusation is asked to interaction Detective Llorens astatine nan Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD lawsuit 26SS02396) astatine 801-766-6503 aliases 801-798-5600.