Investigators confirm identify of murder victim in 20-year-old cold case

November 29, 2018 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE — Efforts to name the victim in a 20-year-old cold case have paid off for Utah investigators as a person known only as the “Maidenwater Victim” as been identified as Lina Reyes-Geddes, of Ohio.

“After tireless work and the public’s help, agents with the Utah Department of Public Safety have made a major breakthrough in their 1998 cold case investigation,” Utah DPS said in a press release issued Thursday morning.

The Utah Department of Public Safety announced Reyes-Geddes had been identified thanks to family in Mexico who contacted authorities after seeing a press release related to the Utah DPS case. The press release was issued in early October.

Reyes-Geddes’ body was found in alongside state Route 276 near milepost 8, approximately 38 miles north of Lake Powell in April 1998.

Her body was covered with plastic bags, wrapped in duct tape, tied with rope and placed in a sleeping bag before being wrapped in carpet, according to DPS.

Reyes-Geddes’ fingertips had also been removed, making identification through that method impossible, a DPS agent said during a press conference held Thursday afternoon.

While identifying Reyes-Geddes is a major break in the case, the DPS agent said other factors, such as how she got to Utah and who the murderer is, remain under investigation.

Investigators have previously pointed to serial killer Scott Kimball as a primary suspect in the case. He is serving a 70-year prison sentence in Colorado for the murder of four people, and is believed to be tied to others.

While Kimball has denied involvement in Reyes-Geddes’ death, he remains a suspect, the DPS agent said.

DPS is also looking at other suspects due to new information has come to light as well, the agent said.

Reyes-Geddes’ identification was confirmed after a sister and niece traveled to the U.S. consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, and provided DNA samples that were sent to the Utah crime lab for testing. The results came back with a positive match.

While the investigation continues, state authorities are also working with the family to get Reyes-Geddes’ remains sent to Mexico.

Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @MoriKessler