Candlelight Vigil To Remember Murder Victim
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Reported by: Fields Moseley
Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009 @11:58pm CST
November 18th is a difficult day for the the Beristain family. Eleven years ago Trisha Beristain was shot to death in Big Cottonwood Canyon and the man believed responsible has never been brought to justice.
"We promised Trisha we would be here every year until he was captured," said Fred Beristain as he stood on the side of the dark road in the canyon, his face lit by the candles around him. "Eleven years is too long."
Every November 18th, the extended and growing family gathers in Big Cottonwood to light a candle and remember 19 year old Trisha. She was shot to death next to the road in 1998. A hunter discovered her body.
"There's a lot of anger," said Cynthia Burnett. "I lost my sister, my friend. My children never met their aunt."
"There's not enough words and not enough time to describe the pain," said Fred Beristain.
This gathering opens the memories like an old wound. To make matters worse, everyone, including police, thinks they know who did it.
Arturo Munguia, or Jesse Vega, as he was called in the Salt Lake Valley, has always been the prime suspect because he was pursuing a romantic relationship with Trisha at the time. The problem is nobody seems to know where he ran to after the murder.
"He's the worst person in the world and he needs to be caught and he needs to pay for what he's done," said Suzette Beristain, Trisha's sister.
Salt Lake County deputies continue to get leads including several a few months ago. They believe Vega is probably in Mexico.
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