UPDATE: Taylorsville man believed to be abducted, found dead

TAYLORSVILLE — A man who police said was possibly the subject of an abduction, was found dead Tuesday and police announced the case was now a homicide investigation.

The man was identified by the Taylorsville Police Department as 21-year-old Alexzia Franco of Taylorsville.

Two teenage boys: a 15-year-old and 17-year-old were arrested and booked into the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center on “multiple felony charges related to the homicide.”

Police did not explain what those charges were.

According to the Taylorsville Police Department, at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, Franco got into a white Jeep Liberty near 3800 West and 5700 South. Witnesses told police they heard what sounded like a gunshot, and then the vehicle sped off.

Police said Franco knew at least one of the people and got into the vehicle willingly. It was on the same street where Franco resided.

“A shot was fired when Alex had gotten into the vehicle and we have some evidence that shows that which includes some video, some ring doorbell cameras and things like that,” Lieutenant Aaron Cheshire said.

Officers discovered a car, believed to be the Jeep involved in the incident on Tuesday. Investigators authored some search warrants and were able to positively identify the vehicle as the Jeep involved. Police clarified that the car was not found abandoned and was located in Salt Lake County.

Cheshire said after conducting some interviews and search warrants, the information led police to the west Lehi area.

“Investigators conducted a search in a more rural part of Utah County and were able to locate the body of Alexi Franco,” Cheshire said. “It appeared there was a single gunshot wound.”

During the investigation Monday night, two teen boys were taken into custody, arrested and booked into detention on felony charges related to a homicide. Cheshire said the two teens were residents of Salt Lake County.

“We do believe that one of the juveniles that we have in custody was the person that actually fired the firearm. The investigation is still active though as we believe that there was possibly another person in the vehicle that may have witnessed this and we’re still actively investigating that part,” Cheshire said.

The investigation so far does not reveal that this is a hate crime. Police have not obtained the weapon that was used, and it’s not clear where the teen got the weapon used.

Cheshire emphasized this is still currently an active investigation.

The State Medical Examiner’s Officer confirmed the body found was Franco, who had been reported as abducted.

Police have asked for anyone with information in this case to call Taylorsville police at 801-840-4000.