This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After charging a man with obstructing justice in a Glendale man's homicide investigation, the Salt Lake City Police Department is asking anyone with more information about the case to come forward.
Nathan Andrew Johnson, 37, was charged last week in 3rd District Court with second-degree felony obstruction of justice in the 2014 slaying of 18-year-old Gustavo Jarquin.
On Sept. 22, detectives traveled to Antioch, Calif. and took Johnson into custody, with help from local law enforcement. Johnson awaits extradition back to Utah, according to a Thursday police news release.
Almost a year ago, on Sept. 18, 2014, a passerby found Jarquin's body on the side of the road near Indiana Avenue and Pueblo Street, on the west side of the city. Jarquin had died of a gunshot wound. Police never named a suspect.
However, officers learned at some point that the gun used to kill Jarquin "may be hidden" in Johnson's backyard, according to the charges.
A witness also told police that on the night of Sept. 17, 2014, Johnson allegedly picked her up and refered to Jarquin, who was in the front passenger seat, as "the homie," according to the charges. A second witness told police that at about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 18, several hours Jarquin's body was found, that he saw a car parked on the north side of Indiana Avenue, with two people in the front seats.
But when police contacted Johnson on Oct. 7, 2014, he denied knowing Jarquin or "anything about the homicide," charges state. Police also asked Johnson for his phone number, but Johnson allegedly denied owning a cell phone.
However, police learned last July that Johnson's wife was in the Salt Lake County Jail at the time Jarquin died and obtained recordings of her jail calls.
"On October 8, 2014, the day after police first spoke to Johnson, Johnson told Mrs. Johnson that he told 'them' he didn't have a phone and that he gave the phone to their daughter," the charges read.
Salt Lake City police are asking people to come forward, including anyone who has already been interviewed, to "provide the final pieces of this ongoing investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to call 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips can be texted to 274637, beginning with TIPSLCPD and then the relevant information. The case number, for reference, is #14-162535.
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