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TOOELE — A West Valley man was arrested Friday in the 2011 beating death of a Tooele woman.
Rogelio Diaz Jr., 23, was arrested about 7 a.m. Friday and accused of murdering Evelynne Derricott, 69, in her home, 410 Havasu Dr., on Oct. 7, 2011. The killing occurred during an attempted burglary when Diaz was 18, according to Tooele police.
DNA proved to be an important piece of evidence in solving the case, which police said Friday never became a "cold case" but has been investigated since 2011.
"This investigation has been a complicated process, and we have taken the most careful path to obtain the best evidence. We are confident in our investigation and believe the case that we are now sending to the Tooele County attorney is solid," Tooele Police Chief Ron Kirby said.
Investigators revealed Friday that Derricott died from multiple blows with a hammer.
"A Stanley hammer was found with red/brown staining. The staining was later identified as human blood, which matched Ms. Derricott," according to an arrest affidavit. "During the autopsy, 14 impact wounds were identified. The wounds matched the hammer found at the scene."
The hammer was sent to the state crime lab for analysis. The DNA of an unknown male was found on the hammer in addition to Derricott's DNA.
A day after her body was discovered, Derricott's car was found abandoned in Kearns with her cellphone inside. DNA collected off the steering wheel matched the male DNA found on the hammer, according to the affidavit.
"The crime lab conducted a familial search of the Utah DNA database. The search provided me with a familial lead. Through investigation, I determined Rogelio Diaz Jr. as a prime suspect in the case," a detective wrote in the affidavit.
Investigators began watching Diaz, and on April 22 they collected a pair of work gloves he had left on the ground and a Rockstar Energy can he had drank, according to the statement. Both were sent to the Utah State Crime Lab.
"The DNA profile from the can matched the unknown DNA profile found on the hammer and steering wheel," the affidavit states.
Diaz was arrested without incident near his home about 7:30 a.m. Friday.
According to state court records, Diaz was convicted of an amended charge of attempted failure to stop at the command of a police officer in 2011 in exchange for other drug-related charges being dismissed. He later violated his parole and was sentenced to 150 days in jail. Diaz was also convicted of theft in 2012.
