Police identify man likely stabbed, thrown from car onto highway

West Jordan police on Sunday identified a man found dead on Bangerter Highway Saturday. It appears the man had been stabbed and thrown from a vehicle, police said.

West Jordan police on Sunday identified a man found dead on Bangerter Highway Saturday. It appears the man had been stabbed and thrown from a vehicle, police said. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Police have identified the man found dead with stab wounds early Saturday in the southbound lanes of Bangerter Highway near 7800 South.

The man was identified Sunday as Cesar Adan Martinez, 37. Martinez had recently moved to Salt Lake City from West Valley City.

It appears the man had been stabbed and thrown from a moving vehicle, according to West Jordan Deputy Police Chief Richard Bell. Officers discovered the man's body at 2:37 a.m.

"The WJPD sends condolences to Cesar's family and friends, and we are working tirelessly to bring resolution to this incident," Bell said in a statement.

Bell said detectives are processing evidence and hoping for leads, but are asking anyone who may have seen Martinez, anything strange or were traveling on Bangerter Highway near that time to reach out to police. Martinez is believed to have been at a bar or restaurant Friday night, Bell said.

Police are also asking for the public's help in locating Martinez's vehicle which is still missing. The vehicle is a blue 2008 Dodge Dakota four-door truck with Utah license plate E36 6SM. The truck, which is in poor condition with numerous dents, has a gray camper shell with a broken window on the passenger side covered with a plastic bag.

Cesar Adan Martinez, 37, of Salt Lake City, was found dead on Bangerter Highway with stab wounds on Saturday.
Cesar Adan Martinez, 37, of Salt Lake City, was found dead on Bangerter Highway with stab wounds on Saturday. (Photo: West Jordan police)

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Emily Ashcraft joined KSL.com as a reporter in 2021. She covers courts and legal affairs, as well as health, faith and religion news.
Ashley Fredde covers human services and and women's issues for KSL.com. She also enjoys reporting on arts, culture and entertainment news. She's a graduate of the University of Arizona.

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