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WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police are investigating an unusual case in which two women claim they were sexually assaulted on separate visits to a business that purports to provide "healers" to pray for customers.
But when detectives showed up with a search warrant, the business was closed and the tenants have apparently not been heard from for months.
Two women went to a business called Misioneros de Luz, 4330 W. 3500 South, more than a year apart. In January, a 29-year-old woman went there after hearing a radio ad stating the "business provided people to pray for her," according to police. The landlord for the complex confirmed the business advertised, "They do card readings and healings."
The woman told police she went four or five times. During one visit, a man "asked her to wrap herself in a white blanket" and told her "anything that happens in the room had to stay between the two of them," according to a search warrant affidavit.
By the fourth appointment, the man had the woman get undressed and then wrap herself in the blanket.
"As she stood with the blanket covering her, the male sprayed her whole body with an unknown liquid. (She) reported that she felt dizzy right after this, and she lost consciousness," according to the affidavit.
When the woman regained consciousness, she said she was being sexually assaulted by the man, the affidavit alleges. She said she pushed him away and attempted to leave as quickly as she could while the man "asked her to make another appointment so that he could pray for her again."
Investigators then learned that a 48-year-old woman had gone to the same business in August of 2022 to have tarot cards read. During the first visit, the woman said a man "put his arm around her shoulders and told her that anything that happens in that room is to be kept in the room."
During her second visit, the man told her he was going to "cleanse" her "with candles, cotton balls and oil," and then sexually assaulted her, police said in the affidavit. "Both victims reported an unknown substance being placed or sprayed on their bodies which caused one victim to go unconscious."
Detectives have been trying since January to make contact with anyone associated with the business but learned the tenants of the business are past due on rent and the business' landlord has been unable to contact them.
Police served a search warrant on the business and collected documents they hope will help them identify the man suspected of being involved in the assaults.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the business or if anyone else was assaulted to contact them at 801-840-4000.
