RIVERDALE, Utah — The man accused of murdering a Riverdale mother before allegedly taking his children, leading to an AMBER Alert on Monday, was ordered to make no contact with his children or those caring for them during his first appearance in court on Friday.
Ricardo Trujillo Rojel, 29, was arrested Monday night on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson following the death of the mother of his two children, 23-year-old Mayra Catalan-Dimas. Police say Trujillo Rojel also resisted arrest and assaulted an officer.
Crime
Victim in connection with AMBER Alert, deadly house fire identified
Friday's court appearance was largely procedural as Trujillo Rojel was formally charged with aggravated murder, aggravated arson, and obstruction of justice. Judge Cristina Ortega agreed to the prosecution's request that Trujillo Rojel not be allowed to have any contact with his children.
Authorities originally arrived at the trailer where the woman and her children lived in Riverdale after receiving reports of a structure fire at 2:45 p.m. Officers found the woman inside the trailer with severe burn marks and a puncture wound to her neck, according to the arrest documents.
Police reported the puncture wound appeared to be from a sharp object. Investigators also determined that the fire had been caused by an accelerant, and a gas can was found inside the trailer.
The woman's parents told police that she and Trujillo were moving out of the trailer on Monday. Her mother said she was with her daughter at a bank earlier in the day when Trujillo Rojel called her to come back home.
Previous court records showed that Trujillo Rojel was arrested in January on suspicion of domestic violence in front of the children while under the influence of methamphetamine. During the January incident, Trujillo Rojel was accused of breaking a window at the trailer home, damaging picture frames, and scattering other household items around the floor.
Trujillo Rojel's next court date will be April 2, at 1:30 p.m. He is being held without bail.
