Cesar Matias Sevilla‑Aleman — known by the alias “Taliban” — is facing a new murder charge in connection with the death of Jose “Angel” Castaneda‑Lopez, shortly after already being charged in the earlier killings of Rocio Bustamante‑Banuelos, Carlos “Carlitos” Sepulveda, and Zamir “Cumbias” Sanchez.
In early 2024, Sevilla‑Aleman was formally charged with three counts of first‑degree felony aggravated murder and three counts of first‑degree felony
aggravated kidnapping for the deaths of Bustamante‑Banuelos Sepulveda, and Sanchez all missing since late March 2022 and believed killed over a roughly $2,400 drug‑related debt. Investigators allege that the victims were lured into a remote location near Tooele County, kidnapped, and shot execution‑style, then buried in a shallow grave near the Mercur Trailhead.
On April 22, 2023, cadaver dogs from the Rocky Mountain Cadaver Search and Rescue Group located human remains while training at the Mercur Trailhead. Two days later, authorities began excavating and recovered three bodies along with bullets and casings. Identification via DNA, fingerprints, tattoos, and an autopsy confirmed that each victim had been killed by gunshot wounds. Investigators tied the crime to Sevilla‑Aleman partly based on digital data placing his phone near the victims’ phones on March 28, 2022, in Tooele County, and witness testimony indicating that he and accomplices discussed digging a grave and having shot the victims.
Nearly a year later, on April 19, 2024, Utah County Sheriff’s Office personnel found a human rib bone near the same location. Continued excavation revealed additional skeletal remains, including a jawbone with teeth and numerous bullet casings. Among the recovered items was a wallet containing the passport of Jose “Angel” Castaneda‑Lopez. Authorities confirmed his identity through DNA; his remains showed he had been shot sixteen times, consistent with sixteen bullets recovered from the gravesite. Those facts prompted the filing of a fourth murder charge and additional aggravated kidnapping charges against Sevilla‑Aleman in December 2024.
Investigators reconstructed digital communications and call records between Angel and Sevilla‑Aleman between April 13 and April 19, 2022. Records show Sevilla‑Aleman received calls from Angel’s phone on April 19 before making a call and traveling to the Tooele County area. Witnesses also stated that Sevilla‑Aleman had expressed frustration and believed Angel owed him money.
Forensic firearm tool‑mark analysis further linked the crime scenes: shell casings found at the site of Angel’s remains were matched to those recovered where the other three bodies had been found a year earlier. Combined with the heavy personal contact, financial disputes, and ballistic evidence, authorities allege a consistent pattern across all four homicides.
At present Sevilla‑Aleman remains in custody, already serving prison terms for unrelated non‑fatal shootings in September 2022. His next scheduled court appearance in the serial killing case is set for February 11, 2025.Last Seen: Apr 1, 2022
