Roberto V. Arguelles

Serial Killer

Roberto V. Arguelles: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Roberto V. Arguelles was born on February 14, 1962, in Kearns, Utah. Little is publicly available about his childhood, but at an early age, his stepfather moved the family to a pig farm in Salt Lake City, where the two boys worked hard. Arguelles committed his first crime at age 15, when he was caught trying to steal a car in September 1977, but was placed on probation. His behavior only worsened after his release, as in June 1978, he was sent to a youth shelter for beating up his girlfriend, brother and mother. He remained there for around a month, successfully escaping on one occasion but returning six days later, before he was allowed to return home. On October 5, committed his first known violent crime by kidnapping and molesting a 10-year-old girl, but instead of being interned, the juvenile court placed him under house arrest. Arguelles remained on the police's radar, and in November of that year would be charged with molesting a 7-year-old, but the charge was later dropped.

Escalation to Violent Crimes

While awaiting trial on the molestation charges, Arguelles was charged with the February 1979 rape of a 17-year-old girl. He was found guilty for both charges and thereafter placed in the State Youth Development Center in Ogden, with the recommendation that be detained until he was 21 years old. However, the hospital staff, who had no therapy program for juvenile sex offenders, attempted to have Arguelles transferred to the Utah State Hospital, who rejected the proposal, saying that Arguelles was "unmotivated for treatment." After all other ideas, including sending him to California for additional treatment, failed, Arguelles was released on December 19, 1979, with the only condition being that he attend periodic meetings with a sociology graduate student from the University of Utah for therapy.

1980 Attacks and Incarceration

This decision proved insufficient, as on March 3, 1980, Arguelles kidnapped a 15-year-old Granger High School student and drove her to an old shooting range, where he sodomized and raped her. After finishing, he threatened that he would kill her if she told anyone, before dropping her off in front of the school. Three days later, he picked up a 14-year-old girl who was on her way to West Lake Junior High and drove her to a dirt road near his stepfather's farm, where he sodomized and raped her under the threat of a knife. The victim resisted, prompting Arguelles to slash her throat, before dropping her off in a residential neighborhood in West Valley City. The girl managed to walk to a nearby house and ask for medical help, which she received at the Pioneer Valley Hospital. After she was treated for her injuries, the student gave a detailed description of her attacker and his truck, eventually leading to Arguelles' arrest. He confessed to both attacks, and later pleaded guilty before an adult court to two counts of attempted murder, aggravated rape and sexual abuse. He was transferred to the Utah State Prison to serve his sentence, with his appeals for parole rejected on several occasions by concerned board members. Arguelles was finally paroled on June 25, 1991. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Margo Bond Age: (42), Date of Death: 1992-02-18

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Roberto Arguelles - Wikipedia

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