SLC Family Seeks Answers After Jordan River Death Determined To Be Homicide
Jul 16, 2021, 6:54 AM
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah family is pleading for answers after a loved one’s death was determined by police to be a homicide.
On June 9, a body was discovered in the Jordan River.
On Thursday, officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department said detectives had identified the remains as those of 49-year-old Joseph Salas and had determined that the death was a homicide due to an unspecified trauma.
“I don’t understand it — I don’t understand why anyone would do something like that,” said his widow, Heather Ramos. “He was just a good man. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
(KSL TV)
She said she saw her husband head down the trail to the Jordan River two days before his body was discovered there.
Daughter Alexia Ramos said Salas loved his family and his grandchildren and did whatever he could to remain a presence in their lives.
She had gone on a fishing trip with her father two days before his death.
“If could do anything to have another 24 hours with my dad, I would,” she said. “I would do whatever I possibly could to get him back to let him know how much we all love him.”
Joseph Salas’ body was found in the Jordan River on June 9. (KSL TV)
Family members said Salas was well-liked and had a big heart. They didn’t believe he had any enemies.
“He had such a good soul inside him,” Ramos said. “That’s why it’s so hard to understand how this could even happen.”
The family posted up signs Thursday afternoon and pleaded for information that could solve their loved one’s case.
“We need answers, I need answers for my children, I need answers for my grandchildren, I need answers for his family,” Heather Ramos said. “I believe somebody knows something and if they could just please, please call and help us find out what happened to him.”
Anybody with information was asked to call the Salt Lake City Police Department at 801-799-3000.
