Rosie Tapia murder 8/13/1995 Salt Lake City, UT *The 6-year-old’s murder still unsolved*

Sometime after 2:30am but before 5:30am on August 12, 1995, the nightmare for the Tapia family began. When Lewine Tapia went into her children’s room to check on them, the window was wide open, the screen was missing and the blinds were on the floor. And 6 year old Rosie was not in her bed. After looking around the apartment for her and checking with her siblings, she called the police and reported Rosie missing.

Detectives examined the ground-level window and dusted it for prints, but aren’t sure whether Rosie crawled out or if a stranger came in and abducted her.
A resident of the apartment complex told police they heard a scream about 4 a.m.

Several hours later the horrible news no parent wants to hear came in.

She was taken out of the apartment, sexually molested, injured and then apparently thrown into the Jordan River. Her body was found later that morning in a surplus canal connected to the river.

Detectives interviewed everyone they could, checked every lead, but nothing.

Though no one has been ruled out as a suspect, (at the time) Tapia family members on Sunday implicated a neighbor in their Hartland Apartments complex who had carried Rosie home when she was injured on a slide Saturday. Pahl interviewed the neighbor and said he believes the man was just a good Samaritan. Family members have not been ruled out either, although Pahl noted they have been fully cooperative. Also, the police have never been called to the Tapia home on reports of child abuse, nor could investigators find any other history of suspected child abuse involving Rosie’s immediate relatives.Rosie’s older half-sister, Emilia Elizondo, 18, said she put Rosie, Angelica, 4, and Robert, also 4, to bed at 9:30 p.m. SaturdayRosie’s mother, Lewine Tapia, 39, said after coming home from a dance at 2:30 a.m. Sunday with her husband Roberto, 37, she checked on her three younger children and found they were sleeping soundly.But around 5:30 a.m., Tapia said she got up to check on them again. Their bedroom door was closed, which was odd, and Rosie was gone. The bedroom window was open, the screen knocked out and the Venetian blinds were lying on the floor. Rosie’s younger brother and sister were in the same room, but apparently didn’t hear or see anything.

There have been vigils and fund-raisers in hopes of raising money for a reward. If the case is not solved, the fund will be used for a scholarship in Rosie’s name. But I am sure the family would rather use it as a reward for that one person who would come forward with the information to solve the case.

After interviewing hundreds of people and checking the stories of dozens of paroled child molesters, Salt Lake City Police have placed Rosie Tapia’s unsolved murder case in a file drawer. They are now waiting for that one phone call that might help solve the dead-end investigation.

Someone, somewhere has the information needed for this case.

Was girl a victim of foul play?
6-year-old-girl was assaulted
Police still have no leads
Vigil marks 95 death of SL girl
Drifter could be suspect in child’s killing
Possible new lead in ’95 slaying of girl
For Rosie Tapia
DNA May Help Solve 9 Year Old Murder
Number of Missing Children Cases Remain Unsolved
In Memory of Rosie Tapia
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Crime Junkie: Murdered: Rosie Tapia