WEST JORDAN — Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a California man found on a West Jordan residential street.
Jayton Merrill, 18, of Grantsville, and Sarah Elaine Lobato, 20, of Kearns, were each booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder, aggravated assault, obstructing justice and possessing more than 100 pounds of marijuana. Merrill was also booked for suspicion of discharge of a firearm.
The victim has been identified as Raymond E. Ortiz, 39, of Santa Rosa, California.
About 2 a.m. Thursday, a man was found shot to death in the area of Ticklegrass Road and Sparrowtail Road (approximately 7000 S. 5200 West). Officers arrived to find the body of an adult male in the road next to a large adventure van.
“Through the witness testimonies, video evidence, and other investigative means, it has been found that Jayton Merrill shot the victim, who later died as a result of the gunshot wounds,” according to a police affidavit.
Police believe that Lobato “used electronic communicative means to set up a meeting with the intent to use premeditated violence. This violence resulted in the victim’s death,” a second affidavit states. Police also said that Lobato “had a sexual relationship with the victim and they lived together since March 2020.”
Ortiz had been to Utah before and had a prior criminal history for drug distribution, according to police. Investigators say Lobato arranged the meeting with Ortiz at a random location in West Jordan, possibly with the intention of harming him and taking his drugs, according to police.
When Merrill and Lobato were arrested, they were in possession of more than 100 pounds of marijuana, the affidavits state.