Taylorsville Police make third arrest in death of missing 21-year-old

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — Taylorsville Police said a third teenager has been arrested in the death of Alexzia “Alex” Franco, 21, whose body was found in a remote desert area of Utah County earlier this week.

The 17-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released due to his age, joins a second 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy as suspects in Franco’s death. The latter two were arrested Monday afternoon. Franco was abducted from a Taylorsville neighborhood on Sunday, March 15, and the body was discovered with a single gunshot wound on Tuesday.

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The three suspects face felony charges, and detectives feel there are no other suspects involved in the case.

Investigators believe Franco had met the teens about purchasing a firearm. Police believe the suspects planned to rob Franco. The four allegedly met in a Jeep, and after an altercation, Franco was shot to death. The teens then dropped Franco’s body in the desert, according to police.

“Through their investigation, detectives found no evidence of this case being gang-related, drug-related or involving any type of a hate crime,” stated Taylorsville Police Communications Director Kim Horiuchi.

“We are grateful for the diligent investigative work by our detectives in helping to resolve this case with the speed in which they did,” said Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam. “We also greatly appreciate the public’s assistance and the awareness of witnesses and their quick reporting of this crime. We hope that the resolution of the investigation will bring some peace and comfort to those close to the victim, family and friends.”

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