In a quiet West Haven, Utah neighborhood, the lives of a young Hispanic/Latino family were tragically cut short in early September 2024. Two-year-old Yaitza Ibarra, a female, was found deceased on September 3, 2024, alongside her siblings and their mother in what authorities would later describe as a heartbreaking murder-suicide. The discovery was made in a vehicle parked at their family home near 1800 S.
Prevedel Drive, sending shockwaves through the Ogden-area community.
The Weber County Sheriff's Office led the investigation into the devastating event. Their findings revealed that Yaitza, her 4-year-old brother Jordan, and 1-year-old sister Alitzel were fatally shot by their 32-year-old mother, Maribel Ibarra, before she turned the gun on herself. Evidence gathered from the vehicle and the scene indicated the shootings occurred in the rear cargo area of the car. Investigators believe the tragic events transpired sometime between the night of Sunday, September 1, and the morning of Monday, September 2, 2024. Authorities utilized doorbell security camera footage and witness statements to piece together a timeline.
In the wake of the tragedy, family members and friends expressed their profound grief and shock. Maribel Ibarra was described by her brother as a "caring, genuine mother," and her actions left those who knew her struggling to understand what led to the horrific outcome. The family acknowledged that Maribel had been battling what seemed to be depression and feelings of hopelessness, though they were unaware of the depths of her struggles. They shared that she and her children had moved back into her parents' home about a month before the incident.
As there was no one else suspected to be involved in the deaths, the investigation concluded without any arrests. The case stands as a tragic instance of a murder-suicide, leaving a community to mourn the loss of three young children and their mother. The father of the children was interviewed by detectives as part of the investigation, which is now considered closed. A memorial of stuffed animals, flowers, and candles quickly grew on the steps of the home, a somber tribute to the young lives lost.
