SALT LAKE CITY — One person involved in the killing of Jorge Llamas, of Taylorsville, has been sentenced to probation, while another was found guilty of murder.
Charges say Llamas, 21, was woken up and shot by one of multiple teenagers who came to his home after being encouraged to come by a woman he was dating whom he had kicked out that evening.
That woman, Ariana Aguilar, 46, of Ogden, was found guilty of murder Friday following a four-day trial. A jury found her guilty of murder and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; two counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and retaliation against a witness, victim or informant, a third-degree felony.
On Oct. 13, 2024, Taylorsville police responded to a residence near 2300 West and 4200 South where they discovered that Llamas had been shot and killed. Aguilar was on top of Llamas when police arrived. She was dating Llamas at the time and told police she didn’t know who had shot him or where the gun was.
Another woman, however, told police that Aguilar and Llamas had been in a fight and that Llamas had kicked her out, but she had returned with her daughter and other teens. A shot was heard shortly after two of those teens entered Llamas’ bedroom, according to charging documents, and multiple teenagers then fled from the home.
Alejandro Mendoza, 19, of Ogden, was charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated burglary, second-degree felonies, as part of a plea deal. In exchange an obstruction of justice charge, a second-degree felony, was dismissed.
Third District Judge Randall Skanchy sentenced him to two terms of one to 15 years in prison but suspended the prison time and ordered him to serve five years of probation. He was released from the Central Utah Youth Center on Monday.
Aguilar’s daughter, Natalie Estella Aguilar, 21, is also charged with murder and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies, in the same killing. She has pleaded not guilty, and her next court hearing will be on May 11.
Natalie Aguilar received a call from her mother saying they needed to “jump” Llamas, according to charging documents. Another person reported to police that Ariana Aguilar claimed Llamas had “put hands on” her. One teen reported they were just planning to “scare” Llamas but that someone must have put a bullet in the gun.
Four of the teenagers were also charged in juvenile court, each between 14 and 16 at the time of the killing. One of those teens is the one who Natalie Aguilar claimed fired the gun, charges say.
This story may be updated.
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