Community in mourning after mother found dead; husband sought as person of interest

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A Saratoga Springs mother's death and the urgent search for her husband have sent shock waves through Utah's Venezuelan community, where the couple was well known and recently celebrated the opening of their new food truck in Midvale.

Several members of Utah's Venezuelan community are reeling after police confirmed that Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, 43, was found dead inside her husband's camp trailer at a Draper storage facility on Monday. Her husband, Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, 57, is now considered a person of interest in the case.

The couple, who immigrated from Venezuela a decade ago, had recently launched a food truck, Rica Arepa, according to friends.

The search for the pair started on Thursday. According to the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the couple, married for 19 years, was last seen around 10 a.m. when Urbina left to take Vitola to work, but she never made it to work. Later that night, Police Chief Andrew Burton said family members contacted police to request a welfare check.

Initially, Burton said family members did not believe the couple was in any danger, as they had no history of domestic violence or serious medical issues, but instead wondered if they were detained by ICE. A police check ruled out the possibility.

According to Burton, detectives discovered Vitola's body while executing a search warrant at the couple's trailer on Monday.

Search in trailer

According to Burton, family members searched Urbina's camp trailer at a storage facility in Draper on Saturday, but "did not locate either party, finding the trailer locked."

On Monday, Saratoga Springs detectives obtained a search warrant and found the body of Vitola in the trailer, turning the search into a homicide investigation.

"The trailer was then processed as a crime scene, and the medical examiner's office was notified," Burton said. "An autopsy was completed today, and full results of that autopsy are still pending."

Police trace husband's movements across the Southwest

Investigators said the couple's SUV was spotted by "vehicle cameras" in Cedar City, St. George and Las Vegas on Thursday during the middle of the day, though footage did not show who was in the vehicle.

"Use of credit cards and other purchases also showed up late in the evening that Thursday night in California," Burton said.

Burton further shared that Urbina's vehicle, described as a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia, was "shown on camera" in Southern California as recently as Monday.

"We are alerting local authorities in California," Burton said, adding that they were working to determine if Urbina has associates or contacts in California.

Burton emphasized that Border Patrol has not recorded the SUV crossing into Mexico and believes Urbina is still in California.

While Burton noted that the couple had no documented history of domestic violence, there had been "some talk about divorce."

Community focus turns to the couple's children

Several vendors at a Midvale food truck stop specializing in Venezuelan food said they never saw any signs of trouble.

"Things looked very normal," said Fernando Colmenares, who met the couple, in his native Spanish.

Colmenares said the family's food truck opened only about two weeks ago, with the couple and their family members participating in the grand opening.

"Though we only met them briefly, they looked happy, and we were all really happy for them, to see their progress as Venezuelans," Colmenares said.

He described the news of Vitola's death as devastating and said many in the Venezuelan community were invested in finding the couple and sharing whatever information they learned.

As the investigation continues, Colmenares said his heart is with the couple's two children, who are now facing an unimaginable loss.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detective Llorens at the Saratoga Springs Police Department (case 26SS02396) at 801-766-6503 or 801-798-5600.

Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 193 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

His vehicle is described as a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia, with Utah license plate No. T409YB (Utah Arches style plate).

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