Nakeena Youngman, a 40-year-old woman from Salt Lake City, was a mother of six and a cherished grandmother. Her family described her as a vibrant and joyful person who was the light of any room. Her daughter remembered her as fun and outgoing, the life of the party, and a wonderful woman who was loved by everyone. She cherished her children and granddaughter, and enjoyed cooking with them, dancing, and singing.
On the evening of April 2, 2025, Youngman was in Ogden, Utah, visiting
friends. She was found lying in a road on the 400 block of 800 North with a single gunshot wound to her upper chest. Emergency responders transported her to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injury.
The investigation led police to a nearby apartment where Youngman had been earlier that night. Witnesses told investigators that Youngman had been in an argument with another woman, 37-year-old Ana María Zaragoza. The two women left the apartment, and a gunshot was heard soon after. Witnesses also reported seeing a silver Nissan Altima, a car Zaragoza was known to drive, leaving the scene.
Following the shooting, Zaragoza took steps to evade law enforcement. She disposed of her phone and the gun used in the shooting, then traveled to Los Angeles, California, where she purchased a plane ticket to Mexico. She did not board the flight and instead returned to Utah. On April 13, 2025, the Utah Highway Patrol arrested Zaragoza on unrelated charges after a high-speed traffic stop in which troopers found drugs and a firearm in her vehicle.
After her arrest, Ogden detectives questioned Zaragoza about Youngman's death. She admitted to shooting Youngman, claiming Youngman had made threats toward her. By her own admission, she could have left the situation safely but instead went to her car to retrieve a gun. She then reapproached Youngman, called out to her, and fired a single round into her chest. The Weber County District Attorney's Office charged Zaragoza with murder, two counts of obstruction of justice, and being a restricted person in possession of a weapon.
In March 2026, Ana Maria Zaragoza pleaded guilty to first-degree murder as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for her plea, the charges for obstruction of justice and weapon possession were dismissed. In May 2026, 2nd District Judge Craig Hall sentenced Zaragoza to 15 years to life in prison.
