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SALT LAKE CITY — The second of two men believed to have kidnapped and sexually assaulted a teenage girl at gunpoint more than 15 years ago is now facing charges thanks to advances in DNA technology.
Jose Luis Pina-Cruz, 38, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies. Pina-Cruz is currently incarcerated in the Central Utah Correctional Facility under the name Jesus Alarcon Jimenez after being convicted of murder in 2008, according to prosecutors.
On July 3, 2006, a 16-year-old girl walking home in the area of 300 S. Cheyenne Street noticed a car drive past her a couple of times. When the car eventually stopped, a man got out and "ran toward her, grabbed her head, and pointed a silver handgun at her stomach. The male stated, 'You're coming with me,'" according to charging documents.
The girl was shoved into the car, taken to a field and raped by both the driver and passenger, the charges state. The men then drove her a short distance, took her phone, cash and identification card, and threw her out of the car.
On June 5, 2018, a DNA database search matched Frank B. Benavidez, and he was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies, in connection with the 2006 assault. At that time, Benavidez was already in prison for a high-profile murder of 7-year-old Maria Menchaca. Benavidez drove the SUV that pulled up to Maria's Glendale home on July 6, 2008. A shot was fired from the vehicle, which struck and killed Maria who was playing in her yard. Prosecutors said she was not the intended target. Benavidez was sentenced to 16 years to life in the Utah State Prison.
His next scheduled hearing in the kidnapping and rape case is Nov. 27.
In July of this year, a DNA match was made with Pina-Cruz, who also goes by Jimenez. Investigators then collected an updated DNA sample from Pina-Cruz which also matched with evidence collected in 2006, the charges state.
Pina-Cruz was also convicted in connection with a Salt Lake murder. Police say he was the getaway driver when Miguel Mateos-Martinez went into the Bushwacker Salon, 1329 W. 1300 South, on Aug. 15, 2007, and shot and killed Faviola Hernandez, 24, the owner of the store, during a robbery. Pina-Cruz, or Jimenez, was sentenced to 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison. Mateos-Martinez was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office says DNA technology continued to evolve after Benavidez was charged, and unprocessed evidence samples were tested with the new technology.
"Developing technology played a critical role in this investigation. We commend our prosecutors that utilized DNA testing to continue to work the case to help identify the second alleged suspect," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement. "We appreciate the patience of the survivor and her family as this case was being investigated. While one alleged offender had been identified the second alleged offender remained unknown for years."
