Police Investigating ‘Suspicious’ Death After Body Found In Pickup Truck
Dec 8, 2019, 8:16 PM
Officials with the West Valley City Police Department said 31-year-old Jesus Vasquez was found dead in his truck Saturday night. (West Valley City Police Department)
(West Valley City Police Department)
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – A man was found dead inside his pickup truck in a church parking lot and police are calling it a possible homicide.
Officials said the body of 31-year-old Jesus Vasquez was discovered early Saturday morning in a church parking lot at 2835 South 2855 West.
“I knew something was wrong but at the same time I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” said Juan Rhodas.
Rhodas lives directly across the street from the church parking lot where the victim’s body was found but said he had no idea what had happened there.
“I saw a lot of cops, undercovers. They were just doing their job patrolling the neighborhood,” Rhodas said. “I think they were probably looking for someone or something.”
Police were called to the scene around 6 a.m. Saturday by a witness who spotted a man in a truck.
“A witness saw a vehicle in the parking lot and somebody was there and they weren’t moving. We get quite a bit on vehicles like that,” said Lieutenant Justin Wyckoff with the West Valley City Police Department. “Once we got there we were able to determine he was deceased.”
Detectives wouldn’t go into details on Vasquez’s injuries but said there were multiple and they indicated foul play.
Vasquez was found in the passenger seat of his maroon Nissan Frontier four-door pickup truck.
“The victim was in his own vehicle. We don’t know if he drove there or if the suspect drove there. We’re still working that information out,” Wyckoff said.
Neighbors said they’re glad police are actively looking for a suspect but the nature of the crime was still scary.
“Honestly it kind of worries me. I have my own kids. I have three kids of my own so yeah, it is kind of concerning,” Rhodas said. “I hope the cops can take care of it and do what they’ve got to do as their job and make this neighborhood more safe.”
This is the 10th homicide in West Valley City in 2019 and the only one that hasn’t been solved yet.
If you have any information about the victim or saw his truck over the weekend, please call police at 801-840-4000.
