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MAGNA — Akosita Kaufusi's body was found by a frontage road in western Salt Lake County on Aug. 29. Her death was ruled a homicide, but police have yet to make any arrests in the killing.
Now, they're offering a $1,500 reward to try to change that.
The Unified Police Department announced this week they've created the reward for "any information or evidence leading to an arrest which results in filed charges" in the Kaufusi case. Police believe Kaufusi, 42, was murdered at the Great Salt Lake around Aug. 14 before her remains were discovered by a jogger two weeks later near the Great Saltair venue.
In October, the Uintah High football team honored murdered and missing indigenous women during a game; two team members were related to Kaufusi. According to a Uintah School District news release, the U.S. Department of Justice has found that Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average rate.
REWARD!!! Unified Police Department is offering a $1,500 reward for any information or evidence leading to an arrest...
Posted by Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake on Thursday, December 3, 2020
The Utah Legislature this year created a task force to address disproportionate violence against Native American women and girls.
Anyone with information on Kaufusi's death is asked to contact the Unified Police Department's violent crimes unit at 385-468-9800.
