Body found in suitcase along I-80 identified


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SALT LAKE CITY — After more than two months of investigation, police identified the body found in a suitcase along I-80.

DNA results from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department identified the victim Wednesday afternoon as Las Vegas missing person Susana Villalavazo-Jiminez, 46.

The badly decomposed remains were located by Utah Department of Transportation workers on I-80 near the Saltair resort on April 30. The large suitcase was reportedly in a ravine off of the shoulder and not visible from the road.

Police believe the woman died from a gunshot wound anywhere from several weeks to several months prior to being discovered. Investigators believe her body was put in a suitcase and left on the side of I-80 sometime in November when she went missing.

The description of the victim matched that of missing woman Villalavazo-Jiminez and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department became involved in the investigation on May 1. Police said Villalavazo-Jiminez disappeared under "suspicious circumstances."

Her stepfather, 75-year-old Samuel Teran, also went missing the same day, and the two may have been traveling together, according to police. Police were alerted to Teran's location two days later after his vehicle was spotted in a fast-food parking lot. However, he reportedly shot and killed himself when officers arrived and attempted to stop his vehicle.

"The Unified Police Department Violent Crimes Unit and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Unit have closed both the homicide and missing person cases, as their only suspect, Susana's step-father, killed himself when contacted by police two days after Susana went missing," Unified police said in a statement.

The family of Villalavazo-Jiminez was notified by Las Vegas police and are making arrangements to take possession of her remains, police said.

Unified police did not release Wednesday what they believe was Teran's motive. Family members had previously stated that the two "just didn't like each other."

Villalavazo-Jiminez had overcome several obstacles in her life, including a mastectomy due to breast cancer and had recovered from a broken back after being thrown off a horse.

Contributing: Pat Reavy

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