RIVERDALE, UT – The search for two missing children came to a shocking end when they were discovered with their father, the man accused of murdering their mother, authorities said.
Ricardo Trujillo Rojel, 30, faces charges of aggravated murder and arson after a disturbing chain of events unfolded in Riverdale. An Amber Alert had been issued for his two young children, ages 2 and 3, following the discovery of a fire at a trailer home.
First responders arrived at the scene of the blaze in the Riverdale Manufactured Home Community around 2:46 p.m. Monday, according to local reports. They found the front door of the trailer open and smoke billowing out, revealing a grim scene inside.
“The trailer was filled with smoke,” an affidavit states. A woman, who was severely burned, was found lying near the threshold. Authorities reported a puncture wound on her neck, believing it to be from a sharp object, and quickly ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators suspect that it was Rojel who killed the woman and set the fire. The Amber Alert for the children was resolved when a tipster reported seeing a white Ford F150 disabled along Hobble Creek Canyon’s left fork, as detailed by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle matched the description from the earlier alert, with a man and two children seen walking away from it. License plate recognition technology confirmed its presence in the area.
Deputies arrived shortly after, locating the children and arresting Rojel, who allegedly resisted and assaulted an officer during the arrest. The children were handed over to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.
Rojel’s criminal history includes a past incident in which he strangled a pregnant woman, leading to probation after a plea to misdemeanor assault. Additionally, he is involved in an ongoing investigation into a January home invasion where he allegedly caused extensive damage.
Authorities in Riverdale continue to piece together the events that led to this tragic situation as Rojel remains detained in the Weber County Jail. The community is left grappling with the aftermath as investigations unfold.