Police locate 1 ‘person of interest’ in Gateway Inn homicide; still looking for the other

Javier Rodriguez Pena (left) and Kristie Marie Hansen.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 1, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Kristie Marie Hansen, 26, one of two people Salt Lake City police were looking for as “persons of interest” in a recent homicide case, has been located and booked into jail on warrants.

Salt Lake City Police Department released news of Hansen’s arrest in a tweet Friday.

The other person police want to talk with in connection to the homicide case is 29-year-old Javier Rodriguez Pena. Pena is still outstanding.

Anyone who knows of Pena’s whereabouts, or who may have information about this case, is asked to call 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637. Start your text with TIPSLCPD, which routes it to the police department. Then include any relevant information. Reference: case #17-224975.

Police said neither Hansen nor Pena are considered to be suspects in the homicide, but they were reported to have been in the area with the victim, Mechelle Lindberg, 25.

Mechelle Lindberg Photo Facebook

Lindberg’s body was found just after 8:40 a.m Tuesday in the Gateway Inn, at 819 W. North Temple, SLCPD Detective Greg Wilking told Gephardt Daily.

In a news release Thursday, SLCPD said they have a suspect in custody on unrelated charges. Once formal charges have been filed, they said, his identity will be released.

Gephardt Daily will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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