DNA’s evidence led to an arrest in Utah in a fatal stabbing of 2005 that was unsolved for almost 20 years, announced the Salt Lake County Sheriff.
Mark Muñoz, 53, was arrested Thursday by a murder position for the murder of Jason Royter, who was found dead by stab injuries at his home in Magna on August 6, 2005, said the sheriff’s office on Friday .
The rest in the case occurred when Muñoz, described as someone homeless who moves a lot, was accused of committing a crime in another state and had a DNA sample admitted to an index system, said Sheriff’s detective Ben Pendern.
“These types of cases affect families, and this family has not surrendered,” said Sheriff Rosie Rivera at a press conference. “We don’t give up.”
Royter was a father of two 33 -year -old children when his girlfriend discovered him dead, authorities said. The case cooled after about 10 years, and the advice stopped entering.
Royter’s son, Andrew Royter, was 12 years old when his father was killed. At a press conference last week, he said that learning in a phone call on Thursday that an arrest had felt like a giant weight that raised his chest.
“I used to be an angry person,” he said. “Last night, I feel that I had 10 years of therapy, they hit me at once. I feel much better.”
Andrew Royter remembered his father and the music they shared, in particular the Alien Ant Farm. His father presented him with music, and still occupies a place in his heart.
“He was a great person, a great father, a great brother, uncle, son, whatever,” said Andrew Royter.
The blow in the Munoz DNA sample that supposedly connects it with the murder arrived last year. The authorities did not reveal what steps were taken because of the ongoing investigation, but they said that Muñoz did not have a stable direction and that it was difficult to find.
A criminal case in the murder did not seem to be in the judicial records online on Monday night, and it was not clear if Muñoz had a lawyer who could speak in his name.
The case remains an active investigation, Rivera said, and more evidence is sought. She asked anyone who reminds Muñoz or the day the murder communicated with the authorities.
“From now on, we don’t have a real motive. Mr. Muñoz was not willing to talk to us, ”said Rivera. “Then he knows what happened; We do not. “