Authorities In Mexico Arrest Man Accused Of Fatally Shooting Beloved Utah Radio Host Last Year

Authorities have apprehended a man in Mexico in connection with the murder of a Utah radio host over one year ago.

On Thanksgiving Day, Manuel Omar Burciaga-Perea, 35, was taken into custody in Chihuahua, Mexico, and charged with the murder of his 38-year-old ex-girlfriend, Gaby Sifuentes Castilla, the host of a Spanish-language station who was also known as Gaby Ramos, Deseret News reported.

Burciaga-Perea faces multiple charges, including a count of murder, burglary and aggravated assault, and domestic violence in front of a child.

According to charging documents obtained by Deseret News, shortly after 1 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2021, the suspect allegedly shot Castilla seven times, striking her in the head, arm and chest at her sister’s home in Taylorsville. The victim’s 9-year-old daughter was at the residence when the shooting occurred.

According to family, before the shooting, Burciaga-Perea confronted Castilla at the house about an engagement ring, which he took after forcing his way inside. He then left but allegedly returned about 15 minutes later armed with a gun, the documents state.

Detectives determined Burciaga-Perea, a Mexican citizen, fled the United States for Chihuahua following the deadly incident, and local authorities worked with agents in both the U.S. and Mexico to take Burciaga-Perea into custody.

“This could not have happened without the teamwork, perseverance and cooperation between offices,” Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam said, calling the process “tedious and painstaking.”

Burciaga-Perea is expected to be extradited to Utah from Mexico.

“I was in shock, then I was crying. I was like, 'Finally, finally, they got him,'” said Castilla’s sister, Rocio Sifuentes.