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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man charged Wednesday with killing a West Valley woman fled to Mexico before her body was found, court documents say.
Francisco Jesus Huerta-Martinez, 34, is charged in 3rd District Court with murder and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies. He is also formally accused of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
Huerta-Martinez allegedly strangled 32-year-old Maria Maricela Astorga-Chavez sometime between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9, and left her body on the side of I-70 in Summit County, Colorado. Police have said they believe the killing occurred in West Valley City.
Court documents say family members last saw Astorga-Chavez the night of Aug. 6 when she dropped off her son at her sister's home in Salt Lake County, presumably leaving him for the night, and willingly got into a vehicle with Huerta-Martinez.
Astorga-Chavez reportedly spoke with her cousin over the phone later that night and sent her cousin a message just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 7. She was never heard from again, court documents say.
Huerta-Martinez was in Fort Worth, Texas, on Aug. 9 when he allegedly told a friend he had strangled someone, wrapped them in a blanket and left the body at the side of the road somewhere in Colorado. Investigators learned through travel records that he left on a bus headed to Queretaro, Mexico, on Aug. 10, charges state.
West Valley police released information on Aug. 13, asking for the public's help finding Astorga-Chavez. Her body was found Aug. 16 by a Colorado Department of Transportation employee working on the side of I-70.
Astorga-Chavez's body was reportedly found inside two blankets, one green and one white, wrapped together by an electrical cord.
"Ms. Astorga-Chavez was missing several rings she was known to always wear," charges state.
Residence searched
Police went through Huerta-Martinez's residence in West Valley City and reportedly found the plastic bag meant to hold the white blanket. Officers also said they found a picture of Huerta-Martinez standing in front of his bed, with the green blanket on top of it.
The cord to a clothing iron in his home also appeared to be missing, court documents say. Fingerprint evidence reportedly showed Astorga-Chavez had been in Huerta-Martinez's bedroom.
An autopsy revealed Astorga-Chavez died from asphyxiation due to strangulation and that "the manner of death was homicide," according to charging documents.
Arrest warrant issued
A warrant for Huerta-Martinez's arrest was issued Wednesday. His exact whereabouts remain unknown, and charging documents don't say whether he may have since returned to the United States. He reportedly lived in West Valley City only briefly before the alleged murder and has no other criminal history in Utah.
Police identified Huerta-Martinez by a different name in August, saying he goes by several different aliases.
Aug. 7: Astorga-Chavez sent phone message to family
Aug. 7 - Aug. 9: Court documents allege Huerta-Martinez strangled Astorga-Chavez, dumped her body in Colorado.
Aug. 9: Court documents allege Huerta-Martinez was in Texas, told friend he strangled someone.
Aug. 10: Huerta-Martinez left on bus for Mexico, documents say
Aug. 16: Astorga-Chavez's body found in Colorado.
Oct. 21: Huerta-Martinez charged with murder, aggravated robbery, obstructing justice. Arrest warrant issued.
