Mother of AMBER Alert children identified by police after being found dead

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4) — The woman who was found dead in a burning Riverdale trailer on Monday — the same day her children were the subject of an AMBER Alert after being taken by their father — has been identified by police.

Mayra Catalan-Dimas, 23, was found unresponsive inside the burning trailer just before 3 p.m. on Monday, and was later pronounced dead. According to arrest documents, she was found with a puncture wound to the neck and severe burns.

The Riverdale Police Department said her identity wasn’t previously released because her family had not yet been notified of her death.

“Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time,” Riverdale police said Wednesday.

When officers received reports of a structure fire in the area of 5100 South 1050 West on March 24, they responded and saw “a small amount of smoke emanating from a trailer.”

Catalan-Dimas was found unresponsive and was carried out of the trailer by officials before she was “unfortunately found to be deceased,” despite lifesaving efforts. Investigations revealed her cause of death to be homicide, and the cause of the fire to be arson, police said.

On Monday, officials learned that Catalan-Dimas’s two children were missing, along with their father, Ricardo Trujillo, who was later arrested. After learning that the children were missing, officials issued an AMBER Alert.

Trujillo and the children were unaccounted for, and authorities released information about the vehicle they were likely traveling in. Later in the evening, officials received a report that the suspect vehicle was seen in Springville Canyon.

“Officers responded and located the children with Ricardo Trujillo, who was taken into custody,” Riverdale Police said in a Wednesday press release. “The children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services initially but were later released to family.”

Trujillo was booked into the Weber County Correctional Facility on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson. According to previously filed arrest documents, Trujillo was arrested for domestic violence in January of this year. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor assault charge.

A GoFundMe* has been set up to help raise funds for funeral costs for Catalan-Dimas. The fundraising page said her children were the “light of her life,” and said her death “has left a void.”

Officials said the investigation is still active.

*ABC4.com is not affiliated with the online fundraiser or the organizers behind it. While this fundraiser is designated as “donation protected” by GoFundMe, ABC4.com does not guarantee that any funds donated will be used for the person(s) named as beneficiaries of the fundraiser.