PROVO — A decade has passed since Elizabeth Elena Laguna Salgado vanished in downtown Provo, leaving behind unanswered questions and a heartbroken family still searching for justice.
On April 16, 2015, the 26-year-old had just finished classes at the then-Nomen Global Language School at 384 W. Center Street. She left the school and was never seen again.
For nearly three years, her loved ones held onto hope until her remains were discovered by happenstance in Hobble Creek Canyon — about 30 feet from a dirt road.
On May 18, 2018, a man driving through the canyon pulled over on the side of the road and stumbled across the skeletal remains.
“He stopped to go to the bathroom. He answered nature’s call. If he had stopped 50 yards one way or another, we would be having a different conversation,” said retired Utah County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Spencer Cannon, who was present at the scene the day Elizabeth’s remains were found. “She probably still would not have been found.”
The man was quickly cleared of involvement in the case because he was out of the country when Elizabeth disappeared.
Despite the discovery of her remains, the case remains unsolved.
“There are just more question marks than answers,” Cannon said. “She had probably been exposed to the elements for just as long as she had been missing. And the only thing there were a few clothing items and her remains.” Cannon added that 98% of her remains were found.
After the discovery, Cannon escorted Laguna Salgado’s family and media representatives to the site. Over the years, he has made routine trips back.
“It hurts to see. That’s why I have gone up to her site every year just to see. It’s changed over the years. It’s hardly recognizable,” Cannon said.
For Laguna Salgado’s family, the pain of her loss has not diminished. From their home in Chiapas, Mexico, her parents have pleaded for help, reaching out to both their country’s president and President Donald Trump, imploring them to intervene and bring her killer to justice.
“All these years have been filled with suffering,” said her mother, Libertad Salgado, describing her family’s grief. She insisted they would never stop fighting for answers.
As the investigation continues, officials urge anyone with information, especially those who may have seen Laguna Salgado the day of her disappearance, to come forward.
A spokesperson for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the case remains active, and they are working with state investigators to review the evidence and gain a fresh perspective.
Anyone who met Laguna Salgado during the short time — 18 days she was in Utah before her disappearance — or who spotted a young woman matching Laguna Salgado’s description is encouraged to contact the Utah County Sheriff’s Office at 801-851-4000.
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