Esperanza Elizabeth Espie Chavez, 25, was found dead near a dumpster in a Millcreek business complex on January 20, 2024. A passerby discovered her about 6:24 a.m.; responding Unified Police Department officers found an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured a black pickup truck arriving at 12:28 a.m. and a male figure dragging a body from the vehicle. The video shows the man trying twice to place the body in the dumpster, leaving it on the ground when those attempts failed, then driving away. Investigators traced the truck’s license plate to 46-year-old Fred Jason Edwards of Salt Lake City and determined the shooting likely occurred inside Edwards’ vehicle.

Family and investigators described Chavez and Edwards as having had a romantic relationship marked by a long history of domestic violence. Chavez had reportedly left Edwards two weeks before her death after an alleged stabbing and had obtained a protective order; she was reportedly in the process of moving out of state with family help. Edwards was later located at the University of Utah Hospital and taken into custody; he has a documented violent criminal history and was charged in connection with the killing.

Did anyone in Millcreek or Salt Lake City see the black pickup truck around January 20, 2024, or have information about Chavez and Edwards’ relationship?