LOCAL NEWS

Man extradited from Mexico, pleads guilty to three Utah murders

Jun 12, 2023, 4:29 PM | Updated: Jun 27, 2024, 9:55 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of murdering a woman and her unborn child in 2006 and murdering another woman in 2008 has pleaded guilty.

Juan Antonio Arreola-Murillo pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder, each a first-degree felony, according to a release from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

Arreola-Murillo is accused of strangling Sonia Mejia and subsequently killing her unborn child on Feb. 9, 2006, at her Taylorsville home.

A neighbor witnessed Arreola-Murillo talking to Mejia and forcibly entering her home.

Mejia was found by her husband that evening when he arrived home from work, she had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. She was six months pregnant.

Police arrest man for murders in 2006 and 2008, extradite him from Mexico

Two years later, on Feb. 9, 2008, Arreola-Murillo strangled Damiana Castillo at 4000 South Redwood Road, according to court documents.

Before a positive identification was made of the suspect in these cases, Arreola-Murillo was deported to Mexico in 2008.

In 2016, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System reported a positive match on the latent fingerprints obtained from the scene of Mejia’s and Castillo’s murders.

On April 5, 2017, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office reviewed and filed formal criminal charges against Arreola-Murillo, who at that time was serving a prison sentence in Mexico for a series of aggravated robberies.

Following his prison sentence and the extradition process, Arreola-Murillo was returned to Utah from Mexico in January 2022.

“Our office mourns the losses of Damiana Castillo, Sonia Mejia and her unborn child. While perfect justice would mean that these three individuals would still be with us today, we hope
that these guilty pleas can bring a semblance of justice and closure for these families,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. “We would like to acknowledge Unified Police Department, West Valley City Police Department, and our prosecutors for their efforts on this case. We would like to also thank our partner agencies on extraditing Mr. Arreola-Murillo back to Utah to account for his crimes.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Autumn Mercado, who was found dead in her home on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025....

Garna Mejia

Charges pending in case of West Jordan mother found dead, family seeks justice and protection for children

Nearly a month after the discovery of a West Jordan woman's body during a welfare check, charges in the case have yet to be filed.

7 hours ago

FILE - A police vehicle flashes its lights. (Matt Rourke, Associated Press) FILE: police lights. On...

Michael Houck

Pedestrian killed after being hit by a vehicle, Santa Clara-Ivins police say

A woman was fatally hit by a vehicle Friday evening, Santa Clara-Ivins police say.

8 hours ago

An Orem home that was scheduled to be demolished on fire on Feb. 4, 2025....

Brian Carlson

Massive Orem house fire being investigated as arson

A fire that destroyed an empty Orem home in a wooded area of the city is now being investigated as arson.

8 hours ago

Nancy Duncan and Nick Jenderko behind Sabrina Carpenter at the 2025 Grammy Awards show....

Mike Anderson

Utahns sat among stars at the Grammys

Some Utahns earned some bragging rights after a night at the Grammy Awards.

9 hours ago

FILE: On the same day the Utah’s Senate unanimously passed a resolution to bring an NHL franchise...

Daniella Rivera

‘You are inviting rapists to Utah’: Survivor urges lawmakers to consider consent bill

Year after year, Utah lawmakers have resisted or ignored efforts to close what experts and advocates say is a gap in the state’s sexual assault laws. The lawmaker behind those efforts hopes this year will be different.

10 hours ago

Over a thousand people filled the state Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to vet...

Shara Park

Thousands gather at Capitol Hill to protest against controversial union bill

Over a thousand people filled the Utah State Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to veto HB267.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Man extradited from Mexico, pleads guilty to three Utah murders