DNA Evidence Breaks 20-Year-Old Utah Murder Case, Leads to Arrest

After nearly two decades of dead ends, DNA evidence from an unrelated crime led to the arrest of a suspect in the 2005 Magna stabbing death.

Body:

In a breakthrough for a 2005 homicide case that had gone cold for almost two decades, DNA evidence has led to the arrest of a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of Jason Royter in Magna, Utah. The Salt Lake County sheriff's office confirmed the arrest on Thursday, marking the resolution of a case that had left Royter’s family seeking justice for years.

Mark Munoz, 53, was arrested on a murder charge related to the death of Royter, who was found stabbed to death in his home on August 6, 2005. According to authorities, Munoz, a transient who frequently moves between states, was linked to the crime when his DNA, collected from a separate criminal investigation, matched evidence from the Magna case.

Detective Ben Pendern of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office explained that the breakthrough came when Munoz was arrested in another state, leading to a DNA sample being entered into a national database. This DNA hit helped authorities finally make the connection to the cold case.

Sheriff Rosie Rivera expressed her relief at the resolution, saying, "These cases take a toll on families, and this family has not given up. We don’t give up, either."

Royter, a 33-year-old father of two, was discovered by his girlfriend, who found him dead from stab wounds in their home. After a decade of no new leads or tips, the case seemed to stall. However, with the recent arrest, the family has seen a sense of closure.

Andrew Royter, Jason’s son, who was just 12 years old when his father was killed, spoke about the emotional relief the arrest has brought. “I used to be an angry person,” he said, recalling the years of grief. "After hearing about the arrest, I feel like I had 10 years of therapy all at once. I just feel so much better."

He also shared a memory of his father, remembering the music they enjoyed together, especially the band Alien Ant Farm. “He was a great person, a great father, a great brother, uncle, son — you name it,” Andrew said with a fond smile.

The arrest was made possible by the DNA hit last year, but authorities have kept further details under wraps due to the ongoing investigation. Munoz, who has a history of homelessness and a difficult-to-track lifestyle, was reportedly hard to locate for some time.

At this stage, authorities have not disclosed a clear motive for the crime, and Munoz has not cooperated with law enforcement. "He knows what happened; we don’t," Sheriff Rivera said at a recent news conference.

The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone who may have information about Munoz or the events surrounding Royter’s death to come forward.