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HURRICANE, Washington County — When Rosemberg Salgado learned his sister's remains had been found in southern Utah 18 months after her disappearance, it echoed of another tragedy the family already went through.
"It's something that you would never think in a million years that that would ever happen," Salgado said. "We need justice and we need to know what happened to my sister as well as what happened to my niece."
On Saturday, human remains were found by a hiker in southern Utah and identified Miriam Salgado, 46. She was Rosemberg Salgado's sister and the aunt of Elizabeth Salgado, who went missing in 2015 and whose body was found in Hobble Creek Canyon in 2018.
Miriam Salgado went missing in 2021.
Deputies said a hiker found the human remains near Sheep Bridge Road. Dispatchers responded to the call around 1:54 p.m. and confirmed the remains were human. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said investigators believe the remains belong to Miriam Salgado based on personal belongings left at the scene.
"Miriam's family have been notified and we have offered our condolences," the sheriff's office said.
Rosemberg Salgado said he "couldn't believe that my little sister is gone, she's gone." He hoped his sister would be found alive after already going through the tragedy of his niece.
Deputies said Miriam Salgado's vehicle was abandoned off Sheep Bridge Road near state Route 59 in September 2021. A search and rescue team searched the surrounding area at the time, but was "unable to locate Miriam or any signs that she was in the area at that time," deputies stated.
Miriam Salgado's remains were sent to the Utah medical examiner for an autopsy. Investigators said they haven't found any suspicious circumstances, but the case is still ongoing.
It's unclear if Miriam Salgado's disappearance is related to the killing of Elizabeth Salgado, whose murder case is still unsolved. Investigators say there is no hard evidence linking the two cases, but Rosemberg Salgado is pleading with police to keep looking.
"We just think this is very suspicious that both of my family members, they would find their remains," he said.
Amid the tragedy, Salgado said he is focusing on his sister's life — celebrating how kind and loving she was.
Contributing: Shara Park
