SALT LAKE CITY — In August 2005, Jason Royter was found dead in his home on West Paine Road in Magna. He was only 33 years old.
FOX 13 News was on the scene 20 years ago and reported that an autopsy determined Jason died from stab wounds to the chest. A bystander who was walking past said they two men arguing inside; one man reportedly said “Pay me back,” and the witness heard Royter reply: “I don’t owe you s***.” The witness gave police a description of the suspect and a truck that was parked outside Royter's house, but they were unable to identify him.
Twenty years later, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said thanks to technology advancements and new techniques, they were able to get a CODIS match for the DNA at the crime scene.
They found that CODIS match in 2024. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services notified Detective Ben Pender from The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit and advised of a CODIS Hit for Mark Nelson Munoz.
After the notification of the CODIS hit, detectives conducted several interviews and investigations and worked with the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services.
The Utah Bureau of Forensic Services confirmed that Munoz's DNA matched the DNA collected from the scene of the crime. He was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Watch: FOX 13's coverage of the murder the day it happened
Court documents state that Munoz is homeless and has a history of traveling out of state, saying it was difficult to locate him.
The sheriff’s office said Detective Christine Petty-Brown initially led the case with the Unified Police Department. The case went cold after 10 years of interviews, leads, and examining evidence. Then the case was turned over to Detective Ben Pender at the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
They said advancements and new techniques in recent years helped lead them to this point.
Jason Royter’s family was at the press conference to announce the arrest.
“Yesterday when they called us to come in for the meeting, I, in my heart, knew and I lost my breath. I couldn’t breathe. It took me back to that night,” Jason’s sister Niki Price said.
While new advancements helped get to this breakthrough, detectives said Jason’s family’s faith is what really kept this case going.
“A lot of work, hours, weekends, holidays, and nights went into this, and it paid off,” Detective Ben Pender said.
Jason Royter's family recalled memories at the press conference.
“He was a great person, great father, great brother, uncle, son, you name it. He was him,” said Andrew Royter, Jason’s son.
As each year passed, they never gave up hope checking in with the sheriff’s office and reaching out to the community.
Many people in his family said they knew that this day was coming.
“I totally believed in the team working on this case. Jason had so many friends in the Magna community. There was no reason to give up. There was no reason to stop talking about it. It’s been a hell of a 20 years but we’re here,” Jason’s sister Stephani Perschon said.
As they enter this next phase in the case, detectives say there’s still more work to do.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill filed official charges against Munoz.
Sheriff Rosie Rivera asked anyone with more information about the case to contact 385-468-9816.
