KEANRS, Utah (ABC4) — A 31-year-old Kearns woman who was reported missing on Jan. 2, 2025, has been found dead, according to Unified Police. Her death is being investigated as a homicide and police have identified a person of interest in the case.
On Jan. 2, family members of Talia Lee Benward, 31, of Kearns, Utah, reported her missing to Unified Police. Due to the “nature and circumstances” of her disappearance, the department put forth a team of officers and detectives to investigate her case and attempt to find her as quickly as possible.
“It became evident Talia Benward was either being held against her will by a violent ex-boyfriend or was deceased,” a press release from UPD states.
PREVIOUS STORY — MISSING: 31-year-old woman out of Kearns
Talia Lee Benward, 31, of Kearns, Utah
Early Saturday morning, Jan. 4, detectives began searching a remote location in Tooele County where they believed Benward might be located. The area was reportedly large and covered with tall brush and cedar trees, and the search was being done in “nearly total darkness and frigid snowy conditions,” police said.
Police used specially trained K-9 teams to conduct a search of the area. At 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 4, police found Benward’s body.
Benward was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office, which will provide an immediate cause and manner of death.
“Preliminarily, it appears the victim may have suffered from blunt force trauma and trauma to her neck area,” the release states. “The Unified Police Department is investigating the death of Talia Benward as a homicide.”
Unified Police said they have a person of interest at this time. That individual is identified as Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah.
Police have released photos of Rocha-Aguayo, seen below, and are seeking the public’s help in locating him.
Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah (Courtesy of Unified Police)Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah (Courtesy of Unified Police)Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah (Courtesy of Unified Police)Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, Utah (Courtesy of Unified Police)
“If anyone has any information which can lead us to locating 24-year-old Nestor Rocha-Aguayo … call the Unified Police Department at 801-840-4000. We do believe he is still in Salt Lake County and are asking individuals to not confront him but to call police,” the release states. “At this time, we are focusing our resources on locating the suspect.”
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.