A key piece of evidence involving the slaying of a pregnant woman in Taylorsville was found late Monday.
The car belonging to Sonia Mejia, 29, was found just before 11 p.m. at the Hampton Fairway Inn, 594 W. 4500 South.
Hours earlier, Taylorsville police had made a plea for the public's help in finding both the car and an unknown man seen in the area of Mejia's apartment the day she was strangled and possibly sexually assaulted.
Mejia's body was found Feb. 9 inside a unit of the Fairway Apartments, 1167 W. Clubhouse Drive, by her common-law husband, who returned home from work about 6 p.m.
Mejia was six months pregnant. Taylorsville police said they believed the crime to be a double homicide.
Investigators combed through Mejia's car as well as the area where it was found Tuesday in search of more evidence. Taylorsville Police Sgt. Rosie Rivera did not know if the car was recently abandoned or if it had been at the Hampton Fairway Inn since last week.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the area where the car was found, or may have seen someone driving the vehicle or parking it, to call police at 801-743-7000.
The search continued Tuesday for a man seen by a neighbor near Mejia's apartment. The Hispanic man is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall with a medium build and short dark hair, combed straight back. He was wearing denim shorts past his knees, white tennis shoes, no socks and a white T-shirt.
Mejia is survived by her common-law husband and an 8-year-old son. An account has been set up at Zions Bank to raise money for the family, who is trying to have Mejia's body returned to Mexico for burial.
Donations can be made at any Zions Bank under the name Pedro Cardenas.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com