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- Unified police found Talia Benward's body in Tooele County Saturday and believe she was beaten to death.
- Authorities were looking for her ex-boyfriend, and arrested him Sunday night in Fillmore.
- Nestor Rocha-Aguayo has a long history of violence against Benward, court records show.
SALT LAKE CITY — Unified police on Saturday located the body of a missing woman in a remote location in Tooele County. The woman was murdered, police say, and officers conducted searches for her "violent ex-boyfriend" Saturday and Sunday before finally arresting him Sunday night.
On Thursday, the family of Talia Benward, 31, reported that she was missing.
"As the investigation developed and evidence was gathered, it became evident Talia Benward was either being held against her will by a violent ex-boyfriend or was deceased," Unified police said in a statement Sunday.
Officers and U.S. marshals conducted searches for Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, before locating him about 7:30 p.m. in Fillmore. Police say he was on a bus and was headed to Mexico.
"We're grateful that we could bring this person into custody safely. Our detectives will be diligent in working this continuing case," said Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race.
Beginning in the early morning hours on Saturday, police searched a remote area of Tooele County where they thought Benward could be. The large area is "covered with tall brush and cedar trees" and the search was conducted in "nearly total darkness and frigid snowy conditions."
Benward's body was located at 5:20 a.m. Saturday with the assistance of the Salt Lake City and Weber County K-9 teams, police said.
"Preliminarily, it appears the victim may have suffered from blunt force trauma and trauma to her neck area," the statement says.
The Unified Police Department considers Benward's death as a homicide and asked Sunday for the public's help in locating Rocha-Aguayo.
"We do believe he is still in Salt Lake County and are asking individuals to not confront him but to call police," the statement says.
Court records indicate a violent history between Rocha-Aguayo and Benward. Various charging documents allege:
- In August 2024, Benward returned home home and discovered that her bedroom window was open and items were missing, including her daughter's birth certificate. Rocha-Aguayo returned to the residence later that day and told her he took the belongings "to get her to leave with him so they could talk." He was charged with burglary.
- During an argument later that same month, he tried taking her purse but hit his head and broke off a rearview mirror. Rocha-Aguayo then grabbed the purse and began hitting her in the face. He was charged with robbery, assault and property destruction.
- In December 2023, Rocha-Aguayo pulled his vehicle directly behind another vehicle to prevent Benward from leaving, then grabbed her by the hair and tried to pull her from the vehicle. A witness captured this on video. He was charged with violating a protective order, assault, unlawful detention and intoxication.
- In November 2023, Rocha-Aguayo prevented Benward from leaving the bedroom during an argument and destroyed her phone when she tried to call a cab. He was charged with unlawful detention, property destruction and violating the conditions of release after a domestic violence arrest.
