Suspect in AMBER Alert murder case makes second court appearance

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — The suspect who was apprehended after an AMBER Alert last Monday made his second court appearance on April 2. Ricardo Trujillo Rojel, 29, is accused of aggravated murder and aggravated arson after attacking a mother, setting the trailer on fire, and fleeing with her two children.

Ricardo Trujillo Rojel appeared in Second District Court today, where defense attorneys discussed setting a preliminary hearing for his case.

Rojel is accused of murdering Mayra Catalan-Dimas, 23, who was found dead in a burning Riverdale trailer on March 24. According to arrest documents, she was found with a puncture wound to the neck and severe burns.

Judge Cristina Ortega spoke with Stephanie Pitcher, Rojel’s attorney, about his previous misdemeanor case involving property damage. After a discussion with Rojel through an interpreter, Pitcher agreed to withdraw from that case and it will now be handled by the same attorneys defending his felony murder case.

The preliminary hearing date for the felony murder case has been set for May 12 at 9 a.m.

The prosecutors — Nicholas Caine and Derek Malan — then clarified an order that was signed last Friday. The order reads, “Any defense investigator, mitigation specialist, or expert witness for Defense is allowed to contact the alleged victim’s family members.”

They clarified that this order did not require the family members to speak with investigators for the defense, and family members would have the right to refuse. Prosecutors also requested that the juvenile in the family not be contacted.

Case background

On Monday, March 24, an AMBER Alert went out, reporting that two children were in “imminent danger” and had been abducted by a “possible homicide and arson suspect.” The Riverdale Police Department described the suspect and asked the public for help.

Later that evening, a caller reported seeing a truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle in Hobble Creek Canyon, and Utah County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded. Rojel was taken into custody, and the two children were safely recovered.

The next day, two felony charges were filed against Rojel: Aggravated murder and aggravated arson.

After an interview at the Weber County Jail, Rojel reportedly told investigators that he had been in an “altercation” with the mother, which had led to him harming her, setting fire to the trailer, and fleeing with the two children.

“The defendant further admitted that he stabbed [the victim] and threw the knife out of the window while he was driving south on the freeway,” charging documents read.

Rojel will appear in court on May 12 at 9 a.m. for his preliminary hearing.