- A Tremonton father killed his child and himself in a Dec. 16 murder-suicide, police said Tuesday.
- Obituaries identify the deceased as Ricky Gonzales, 36, and his daughter Rissa, 7.
TREMONTON — Police announced Tuesday that a Tremonton father killed his child and then himself in a murder-suicide earlier this month.
On Dec. 16, police reported that they responded to a "tragic incident involving a child" in Tremonton, but no details were released at the time, and police would not confirm that any deaths had occurred.
On Tuesday, Tremonton-Garland Police Chief Dustin Cordova announced in a statement that the incident was a murder-suicide where a father and a child were found dead.
"All evidence confirms this was an isolated domestic incident in which a father intentionally killed his child before taking his own life," Cordova said.
Police on Tuesday did not release details about what occurred, and Cordova said he would not release the name of the child, a murder victim, or the father, a murder suspect.
Obituaries from Tremonton indicate that Ricky Gonzales, 36, and his daughter, Rissa AdaLynn Gonzales, 7, both died on Dec. 16.
Rissa's obituary describes her as "a vibrant and joyful soul" who "made a lasting impression on every life she touched."
Rissa "delighted in dancing and cheering with VaDels Dance Studio, showcasing her infectious energy and enthusiasm. She also enjoyed playing softball with Tremonton Rec. Her love for gymnastics and reading complemented her playful nature, while her playful use of Snapchat filters earned her the affectionate title of 'Filter Queen.' However, nothing brought her more joy than the precious time she spent with her beloved mother, Katie," the obituary says.
A GoFundMe account* was created by a friend of Rissa's mother, who said she "lost her daughter to her ex" and now has to plan for a funeral for a little girl who was only 7 years old and in the second grade.
Cordova said the situation is painful for those involved and requested that the community be respectful to the families of those who died. He said calls like these are difficult and have a lasting impact on the responding officers.
"This is a devastating loss. As a police chief and as a parent, there are no words that truly capture the pain of losing a child. My heart is with the family and loved ones who are now facing unimaginable grief," Cordova said. "This year has been an especially heavy one for our community and for our department."
Two Tremonton-Garland officers — Sgt. Lee Sorensen and officer Eric Estrada — were shot and killed Aug. 17 while responding to a domestic violence call in Tremonton. Box Elder County sheriff's deputy Mike Allred and his K-9, Azula, were also shot and injured nearby.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis hotlines
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- SafeUT: safeut.org
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah chapter: afsp.org/chapter/utah
Child abuse 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. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
Help with children
Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or who feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:
- The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
- Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
- The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.
- The Safe Haven law allows birth parents in Utah to safely and anonymously give up custody of their newborn child at any hospital in the state, with no legal consequences and no questions asked. The child's mother can drop off the child, or the mother can ask someone else to do it for her. The newborns should be dropped off at hospitals that are open 24 hours a day. Newborns given up in this manner will be cared for by the hospital staff, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services will find a home for the child. For more information, visit utahsafehaven.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-458-0058.
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Cassidy Wixom
