Thread: Two arrested in death of man found in Cottonwood Heights | Mauricio Martinez

Two arrested in death of man found in Cottonwood Heights; woman wanted for questioning

By: David Wells

Posted 9:41 AM, May 31, 2016
and last updated 3:44 PM, May 31, 2016

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in the parking lot of a credit union in Cottonwood Heights last week.

A woman is also wanted for questioning.

Police said Mauricio Martinez, 31, had been shot multiple times before he was found dead in a car at Mountain America Credit Union near 3000 E. and 6485 S. at about 7 a.m. Friday.

Marco Antonio A. Garcia, 26, and Jorge Arturo Castanon-Serrano, 34, were both booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on Sunday in connection with the murder. Both men are facing first-degree felony charges of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.

Police are also looking for Jamie Clarissa George, 34. She is wanted for questioning in the apparent homicide, according to authorities.

George is described as 120 pounds, slim build, with hazel eyes and blonde hair. Anyone who knows of her whereabouts is asked to call police at 801-799-3000.

Castanon-Serrano is also facing misdemeanor charges of driving without a license, speeding and failure to appear in court.

According to probable cause statements, both men admitted to setting up a robbery of Martinez and another man at a location in Salt Lake City. Detective Greg Wilking of the Salt Lake City Police Department said police believe the robbery and murder occurred Thursday at a home on Redwood Rd. in Salt Lake City.

Martinez was shot and killed during the robbery.

Police said a witness identified both Garcia and Castanon-Serrano as being involved in the murder and at least one more arrest is likely.

JUNE 2, 2020
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

Utah jail honors ICE detainer on Mexican national convicted of murder

SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Salt Lake City took custody of a Mexican national convicted of murder and aggravated robbery from Utah State Prison Tuesday.

Utah State Prison honored a detainer placed by ICE March 30, 2016, with the Salt Lake County Adult Detention Center, Utah and released Marco Antonio Garcia Arriaga, 30, directly to ICE custody to affect his removal from the United States.

“When local jurisdictions honor ICE detainers and release dangerous criminal illegal aliens directly into our custody everyone from the arresting officer to the community-at-large is safer from crime,” said Sylvester Ortega, acting field office director for ERO Salt Lake City. “The public needs to know that cooperation between all law enforcement agencies makes their communities safer by providing justice and closure for their victims. We will continue to protect the community from criminal illegal aliens that hurt the citizens of this country.”

Garcia Arriaga has a conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance from 2011 and was removed from the U.S. the same year. He returned in 2012 and was charged with illegal reentry to the U.S, a felony, and sentenced to 10 months in prison and removed Jan. 7, 2013. On an unknown date he returned to the U.S. a third time and was arrested for homicide and aggravated robbery May 29, 2016. He was sentenced by the 3rd District Court of Utah Oct. 28, 2019 and served time in state prison for his crimes.

ICE lodges detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are removable aliens. The detainer asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the alien for a brief period of time so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency’s custody. When law enforcement agencies honor immigration detainers it ensures ICE’s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission.

ICE focuses its limited resources, first and foremost, on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and border security and does not target aliens indiscriminately; the agency conducts investigations and gathers intelligence on specific individuals for immigration enforcement.

Targets are often those who were arrested on local criminal charges or have blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws. The agency’s arrest statistics clearly reflect this. Nationally, approximately 86 percent of all people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2019 either had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, had illegally re-entered the United States after being previously removed (a felony charge) or were an immigration fugitive subject to a judge’s final order of removal.

Updated: 01/24/2025