Joyce “Tina” Gallegos is believed to have been murdered sometime around August 11, 1982. Ten days after being reported missing on August 11, a fisherman spotted her body on a sandbar in Utah’s Ogden River. A month after Tina’s body was found, a construction worker just outside of Ogden discovered another body — this one wrapped in plastic and left in a ditch. Law enforcement have long suspected Tina and Gabby’s cases are linked, and a recent discovery has solidified that suspicion for good.
Courtesy of Utah Cold Case Coalition
Courtesy of Utah Cold Case Coalition
Episode Info
If you know anything about the 1982 murders of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos and Gabrielle DiStefano, please call the Weber County Sheriff’s Office at 801-395-8221.
A QR code to donate to the Weber County Sheriff’s Foundation. Courtesy: Weber County Sheriff’s Office
Weber County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of a woman, identified as Joyce “Tina” Gallegos, who was reported missing on August 11, 1982, according to The Salt Lake Tribune on August 23, 1982. Detective Mike Wells told the Tribune that Tina died from being shot in the head by a large-caliber gun. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
On September 23, 1982, The Daily Herald reported that Robert Ernest Aragon maintained his innocence to the second-degree murder charge of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos, who was murdered sometime around August 11, 1982. Courtesy: The Dailey Herald
Articles published by The Standard-Examiner on August 22, 1982, identified Joyce “Tina” Gallegos as the person found in the Ogden River a week prior and noted that the Weber County Sheriff’s office would be proceeding with the investigation as a homicide. Courtesy: The Standard-Examiner
The Daily Herald reported on August 23, 1982, that, according to a preliminary autopsy, Joyce “Tina” Gallegos died from a gunshot wound to her head. She was missing for ten days before her body was found in the Ogden River. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
Investigators were puzzled by Tina’s case, according to The Daily Herald on August 24, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
The Weber County Sheriff’s Office told the Salt Lake Tribune that they have “good leads” in Tina’s homicide case, according to an article published on August 24, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
After a preliminary autopsy of Tina’s body revealed that she died from a gunshot wound to her head, the Weber County Sheriff Office decided to investigate Tina’s death as a homicide, The Daily Spectrum reported on August 24, 1982. At the time the article was published, no arrests had been made. Courtesy: The Daily Spectrum
A newspaper clipping from August 25, 1982, reported on Robert Ernest Aragon’s arrest in connection with Joyce “Tina” Gallegos’ murder. Aragon was charged with second-degree murder. Courtesy: Weber County Sheriff’s Office.
Robert Ernest Aragon was arrested in San Jose, California, in August 1982 for allegedly killing Joyce “Tina” Gallegos. In the months before her death, Tina and Robert had gone on a few dates, according to The Salt Lake Tribune on August 26, 1982. Tina’s body was located on a sandbar in the Ogden River by a fisherman, but authorities believe that her body was in the river for up to ten days prior to its discovery. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
Robert Ernest Aragon was arrested in San Jose, California, in August 1982 for allegedly killing Joyce “Tina” Gallegos. In the months before her death, Tina and Robert had gone on a few dates, according to The Salt Lake Tribune on August 26, 1982. Tina’s body was located on a sandbar in the Ogden River by a fisherman, but authorities believe that her body was in the river for up to ten days prior to its discovery. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
Robert Ernest Aragon was arrested on a fugitive homicide warrant in California and was charged with the second-degree murder of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos, according to The Daily Herald on September 3, 1982. Aragon’s trial was scheduled for September 8, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
Robert Ernest Aragon’s preliminary hearing for the death of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos was scheduled for Wednesday, September 15, according to The Daily Herald on September 9, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
Published on September 17, 1982, an article in The Salt Lake Tribune revealed that Robert Aragon admitted to killing Joyce “Tina” Gallegos, according to a preliminary hearing testimony from Ogden police undercover narcotics officer Frank Gailey. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
The Standard-Examiner reported on September 17, 1982, that Robert Ernest Aragon was scheduled to go to trial for the second-degree murder of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos. The witness, Frank Gaily, testified during the preliminary hearing that Robert confessed to Tina’s murder. Courtesy: The Standard-Examiner
The Daily Herald reported on September 17, 1982 that Frank Gailey testified at the preliminary hearing. According to the article, Frank said that Robert confessed to Tina’s murder. In response to Frank, Robert’s defense attorney shed light on Frank’s two felony convictions. After Frank’s testimony, Judge E.F. Ziegler set a court date, September 22, 1982, to try Robert for the second-degree murder of Tina. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
Another article from The Daily Herald about Robert’s trial, dated September 17, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
A newspaper clipping from September 17, 1982, said that a body found by construction workers in a ditch alongside a road near Ogden, Utah couldn’t be identified without a full autopsy due to the significant decomposition. Officers assigned to the case were looking for missing person reports in order to identify the body after the autopsy report concluded. Courtesy: Weber County Sheriff’s Office
The Associated Press reported that Robert Earnest Aragon was charged with the second-degree murder of Joyce “Tina” Gallegos after officer and witness Frank Gailey testified that Aragon confessed to the slaying. The article was published in The Salt Lake Tribune on September 19, 1982. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
The Daily Sentinel reported on Gabrielle DiStefano’s death on September 25, 1982, ten days after her body was found in a trench along a road just outside of Ogden, Utah. When she died, Gabrielle was 14-years-old. Courtesy: The Daily Sentinel
After proving he was in California during the time Tina was believed to have been murdered, Robert Earnest Aragon’s second-degree murder charge was dropped, The Daily Herald reported on November 4, 1982. Courtesy: The Daily Herald
An article in The Salt Lake Tribune, originally published by the Associated Press, on August 6, 1983, discussed the charging and subsequent dismissal of Robert E. Aragon in Joyce “Tina” Gallegos’ murder. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune
An article from The Salt Lake Tribune published on July 3, 1986, noted similarities in female missing person cases from the Salt Lake area. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune (1 of 2)
An article from The Salt Lake Tribune published on July 3, 1986, noted similarities in female missing person cases from the Salt Lake area. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune (1 of 2)
An article from The Salt Lake Tribune published on July 3, 1986, noted similarities in female missing person cases from the Salt Lake area. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune (2 of 2)
In The Salt Lake Tribune on July 13, 1986, writers and investigators speculated a potential link between Joyce “Tina” Gallegos and Gabrielle DiStefano’s murders. Note: two typos in the article — it should read “...she had last been seen Aug 15, 1982…” not 1985. Additionally, the article refers to Gabrielle as “Gabriel,” throughout the piece. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune (1 of 2)
In The Salt Lake Tribune on July 13, 1986, writers and investigators speculated a potential link between Joyce “Tina” Gallegos and Gabrielle DiStefano’s murders. Note: two typos in the article — it should read “...she had last been seen Aug 15, 1982…” not 1985. Additionally, the article refers to Gabrielle as “Gabriel,” throughout the piece. Courtesy: The Salt Lake Tribune (2 of 2)
The location where Gabrielle was found. Courtesy: Weber County Sheriff’s Office
An undated newspaper clipping reported on a woman’s body being taken out of the Ogden River. The woman would later be identified by police as Joyce “Tina” Gallegos. Courtesy: Weber County Sheriff’s Office
Episode Source Material
- ABC4 News: The Justice Files: Red car may be key in solving cold case murders, by Marcos Ortiz.
- Deseret News: Weber detectives probing 2 related killings from 3 ½ decades ago, by Pay Reavy.
- Facebook: Who Murdered Joyce Tina Gallegos and Gabrielle DiStefano.
- Utah Department of Public Safety: Gabriel DiStefano.