WEBER COUNTY, Utah — More than 40 years after a pair of women were found dead in Weber County, investigators have unveiled new information in the cold cases in hopes it may spark someone's memory.
In August 1982, the body of Tina Gallegos, 21, was found floating in the Ogden River. The tragedy ignited more questions when a few weeks later, in September 1982, the body of Gabriel DiStefano, 14 was located in a ditch by the Harrisville Police Department.
Investigators linked the two cases after the deaths by the presence of matching bullets recovered from the bodies of both young women.
Kristin Perkins never got to meet her cousin Gabby.
“I made a promise to my grandfather, who is her uncle, that I would get this case solved, When he passed in 2019, that I would kind of push this case to just get justice,” she said. “I grew up with this, my entire life, and we just want answers. It's been too long.”
“I think this is a long time coming,” said Steve Haney, Investigator with the Weber County Attorney’s Office. “40 years is enough. I think we need to figure out who committed these murders, and we're asking the public for help.”
Now, Weber County officials are asking for the public's help in identifying a towel and shower curtain that was found close to DiStefano's body.
The towel is white with the words "Apartment 15" in one corner of the towel, officials said. It's unknown if the inscription was embroidered or written with a marker.
In addition, the shower curtain is very light yellow and has light green markings at the bottom of it, investigators reported.
Officials are unsure where the towel and shower curtain came from but said learning their origin could greatly help in the investigation.
"This towel and shower curtain may play a crucial role in this ongoing investigation," a release reads. "We encourage anyone who might have information about the origin or recognition of these items to come forward."
The public is being asked to think carefully about if they've ever seen a similar towel or shower curtain at a hotel or motel during the early 1980s.
"Any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could prove instrumental in resolving these cold cases," officials stated. "It also does not matter if the recollection of these items come from a location outside of Weber County."
These were pieces of evidence found with Tina’s body that were likely thrown away, prior to advancements in DNA analysis, said Haney.
“Homicides are like a sweater that has a thread on it, and you start pulling that thread and the whole thing will come apart,” he said. “All we need is that one thread that we can pull on.”
Tina’s brother, Roger Gallagos, feels confident that justice will be brought to the two murdered women.
“Somebody will come up,” he said. “I feel good about it.”
Those with information should contact Investigator Steve Haney with the Weber County Attorney’s Office at 801-399-8618.
