SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The man believed to have fatally stabbed Jason Royter in 2005 has officially been charged with first-degree felony murder.
Mark Anthony Munoz, 53, was taken into custody late last week after police positively matched his DNA to the 20-year-old homicide of Royter.
Royter was found beaten and stabbed in his Magna home on Aug. 6, 2005. Detectives said blood was found on a seat cushion, in the kitchen, and on the stairwell leading into the basement. A bloodied knife was found with a bent blade which contained a DNA profile that matched Royter and a then-unidentified suspect.
A witness at the time reported hearing fighting at Royter’s home. The witness said he overheard one man say “Pay me back,” before hearing Royter respond saying they did not owe the suspect anything.
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Twenty years later, the unidentified DNA pinged a positive match to Munoz after he allegedly committed a crime in another state. Munoz allegedly was not easy to track down, as detectives described him as unemployed, homeless, and with a history of leaving Utah.
“We appreciate the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners who continued investigating this homicide for almost 20 years. Their dedication has helped lead to the filing of these charges,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We hope that this step in the process will help the healing process begin for Mr. Royter’s family and friends.”
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.