Two Utah Teens Arrested in Connection with Possible Abduction, Homicide of 21-Year-Old Trans Man: Police

Authorities in Utah said they have arrested two teenagers in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old trans man who may have been abducted beforehand.

Around 4:15 p.m. on March 17, Alexzia Franco, who police said “goes by the name Alex and identifies as male,” was seen by witnesses getting into a white Jeep Liberty.

The witnesses then reported hearing a possible gunshot, according to the Taylorsville Police Department.

In a press conference, Lt. Aaron Cheshire said the incident took place near Franco’s home, and police recovered video footage from the scene that “clearly identified the sound reported by witnesses as a gunshot.”

Authorities said Franco knew at least one of the people in the Jeep and got into the vehicle willingly. Investigators are trying to determine what led to the shooting.

On March 18, investigators located a vehicle they believed to be the Jeep seen in the video and arrested the two teens.

A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, and officials confirmed it to be the vehicle involved in the incident.

On the morning of March 19, Franco’s body was found in a “remote desert area in Utah County.” The cause of death appeared to be from a gunshot wound, but an autopsy was pending.

Police believe one of the teens — ages 15 and 17 — pulled the trigger and killed Franco. However, the weapon has not been recovered.

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The two teens were both arrested and each charged with multiple felonies in connection to the death of Franco, officials said.