WEST JORDAN — Homicide detectives say two brothers are responsible for the separate deaths of a woman and a man in Salt Lake City and West Jordan this week.
Now, investigators are trying to find out if there is any connection between the two killings.
The body of Benacio Hernandez-Herrera, 33, was found in a field near 6300 West and 7400 South about 3 p.m. Sunday. He was shot multiple times.
Stephanie Williams, 19, was last seen alive in her house, 766 W. 300 North, about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots about midnight. Monday afternoon, her body was found in her house by her mother.
Delfino Arriaga Luna, 31, was arrested Tuesday morning in connection with Williams' death.
Luna's brother, Benjamin Arriaga Luna, 37, who was being sought for questioning in his possible role in Williams' death in Salt Lake City, surrendered to investigators that afternoon.
But while interviewing him, investigators discovered Benjamin Luna was allegedly responsible for the shooting death of Hernandez-Herrera in West Jordan.
"Benjamin stated that a fight took place between himself and (Hernandez-Herrera). Benjamin stated that he pulled the gun out of his waistband and shot (Hernandez-Herrera) numerous times," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Benjamin Luna told investigators he got the gun that was used to shoot Hernandez-Herrera "on the street" and then sold it for $200 after the incident.
Salt Lake and West Jordan homicide detectives were already working together by Monday afternoon, said Salt Lake police detective Pat Wilkinson. Although investigators still did not know Wednesday if the two shootings are connected, he said it was common practice for police agencies to work together when similar crimes happen within close proximity of each other.
A witness reported seeing three Hispanic men arguing about 5 p.m. Saturday in the same area where Hernandez-Herrera's body was found. The witness believes the men had arrived in a black, older model, full-size, flatbed truck with wooden side rails, West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders said.
Following the discovery of Williams' body, Salt Lake police said they were looking for a 2004 blue Dodge Ram pickup truck that was registered to Delfino Luna.
In a bizarre string of events, police say a man who claimed he was "on the phone with the killers" when Williams was shot, kidnapped the wife and children of Luna shortly after the incident, apparently believing Delfino Luna was holding Williams hostage. When the man learned Williams was dead, he took the wife and children to the crime scene where he told investigators the family had information about Williams' death.
Victor Sanchez, 40, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of kidnapping.
A brother of Benjamin Luna and Delfino Luna was also questioned Tuesday by police, but he was later released.
Utah court records show the two brothers were co-defendants in 2003 when they were both charged with threat/use of a dangerous weapon in a fight, obstruction of justice and intoxication. All charges were eventually dismissed. In October 2009, Delfino Luna was charged with violating a protective order, according to court records.
Benjamin Luna was convicted in 2004 of drug possession and two counts of endangerment of a child or elder adult, according to court records. Four other charges were dismissed. He was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to spend 30 days in jail. His case was also handed over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and he was ordered to leave the country within 10 days of being released from jail and not to re-enter illegally.
During his interview with police Tuesday, he admitted he was currently in the country illegally, according to jail documents. Jail records also state that Benjamin Luna has criminal offenses in multiple states.
Although he was not arrested in connection with Williams' death, Wilkinson said he is still considered a person of interest.
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