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SALT LAKE CITY — A Magna man has admitted to stabbing a man and throwing his body out of a moving vehicle onto Bangerter Highway two years ago.
Mario Alberto Carreto-Morales, 26, pleaded guilty Feb. 29 to murder and aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felonies. A second man who court documents say was driving the car is still facing murder charges.
Cesar Adan Martinez, 37, was stabbed multiple times while getting a ride home in his own car, and then was thrown onto the Bangerter Highway near 8300 South where his body was found about 2:40 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2022. Martinez's car was later found abandoned.
In reviewing the call log on Martinez's phone, detectives noticed a call made from Martinez's phone to Carreto-Morales' phone just after midnight. An investigation showed Martinez and two other men were at a West Valley City restaurant the night before.
Martinez noticed he may need a ride home because they had been drinking, and reached out to a friend, charges state. Raul Jaimes Cortez, who is also charged with murder in the incident, told police Carreto-Morales came up with an idea to drop Martinez off at his home and steal his truck.
Charges said Carreto-Morales attempted to place a metal wire around Martinez's neck, and as he tried to pull it away and turn to face Carreto-Morales, the man stabbed Martinez three times from the back seat. When Martinez opened the door to escape, Carreto-Morales pushed him out, charges state.
As a result of Carreto-Morales' plea deal, two charges for aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, were dismissed. Third District Court Judge Patrick Corum did not find enough evidence to support two other charges that were previously dismissed.
In his statement supporting the plea, Carreto-Morales admitted to stabbing Martinez in the chest and stomach. He also admitted to kidnapping with a dangerous weapon to facilitate the robbery of another individual.
Carreto-Morales is scheduled to be sentenced April 22. The punishment for each charge is 15 years to life in prison.
Cortez, 32, of Magna, has pleaded not guilty and a hearing is scheduled on June 7.
Both men were also connected to an incident on March 13, 2022, in Park City, where police said a man was held at knifepoint and forced to withdraw money from his bank account. Information in that case helped connect the two men to Martinez's death.
A third man, Seferino Ruiz, 56 of West Valley City, was charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony, and unlawful possession of a financial card, a third-degree felony, in a related incident. According to charging documents, Ruiz attempted to access Martinez's bank account a day after his death.
