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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man arrested after falling through the ceiling of a home was charged Monday with trying to murder his ex-girlfriend.
Ruben Sal Roybal, 42, is charged in 3rd District Court with attempted murder and aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felonies, plus aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a restricted person, third-degree felonies.
On Feb. 27, Roybal stabbed Yolanda Reyes, 48, multiple times in the neck, chest and abdomen, and then dragged her by her hair on the ground as he drove across a parking lot, according to charging documents. Officers arrived to find a group of people around Reyes and two people applying pressure to her wounds.
When interviewed by detectives at the hospital, Reyes said she had gone to dinner with Roybal that night. Reyes used to be in a relationship with Royal and Feb. 27 was his birthday. After dinner, police say Roybal unexpectedly followed Reyes home, near 400 North and Center Street. When they got out of their vehicles and Reyes asked if everything was OK, Roybal punched and stabbed her repeatedly, "trying to get her jugular," the charges state.
Salt Lake police attempted to arrest Roybal at a residence, 240 W. 700 North, on March 1.
"(Roybal) refused to come out of the house when officers knocked on the door but eventually surrendered after falling through the ceiling of the home," according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 3rd District Court.
When interviewed by detectives, "he made confusing statements that did not make sense, such as he stated his name was 'Christopher Robin' and he stated he was the president of the United States," the warrant states
The affidavit indicates Roybal was at one point at Valley Mental Health.
Roybal has a very lengthy criminal history, according to court records.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.
Domestic violence resources
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
