A decades-old murder case in Salt Lake City reaches its conclusion, bringing closure to a grieving mother who spent 40 years searching for answers about her daughter's death.
According to NewsNation, the Salt Lake City Police Department has identified Ricky Lee Stallworth, a former U.S. Air Force airman, as the person responsible for the brutal murder of 18-year-old Christine Gallegos in 1985.
The breakthrough in this cold case came through advanced DNA technology and genealogical research. Police investigators partnered with Othram, a Texas-based DNA laboratory, which developed a comprehensive genetic profile of the suspect.
The evidence collected from the crime scene was carefully preserved for decades, ultimately leading to the identification of Stallworth as the perpetrator.
Modern DNA technology reveals decades-old truth
Detective Cordon Parks detailed the events of that tragic night in May 1985. Christine Gallegos was last seen alive at 10:30 p.m. while hitchhiking to her workplace in downtown Salt Lake City.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots around 11:30 p.m. near Jefferson Street, where her body was later discovered. The young woman had been severely beaten, stabbed, and shot twice in the head.
The investigation remained stagnant for years despite numerous forensic tests. In 2010, biological evidence was entered into the Combined DNA Index System, but no matches were found. The breakthrough finally came in 2023 when the Utah Cold Case Review Board recommended using investigative genealogy.
Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram, emphasized the importance of persistence in solving cold cases:
Law enforcement officials never stop trying to find answers and it doesn't matter how old a case is, or whether it was hopeless in the past, there is technology here today that is able to get answers for families. Something like this is heartbreaking for a family to go through, but it's important for them to know the truth.
Investigation leads to tragic timing
Investigators tracked down three of Stallworth's four ex-wives and obtained a DNA sample from his biological son. The Bureau of Forensic Services confirmed the match between Stallworth's DNA and the evidence found on Gallegos' body. Unfortunately, Stallworth died of natural causes in July 2023, just months before investigators identified him as the killer.
The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, implemented in Utah in 2015, played a crucial role in solving this case. Steve O'Camb, a SAKI investigator with the Utah Department of Public Safety, noted that this initiative has successfully resolved five cold cases in the state.
The program's success extends beyond this case, having also solved the Gregory Dahl Nickell homicide in Uintah County.
Leah Gallegos, Christine's mother, shared her emotional journey during the press conference:
I just know that I sure miss this girl every day. I wonder about the kids she would have, and I watch other people with their daughters, their grandkids.
Four decades of waiting ends with answers
The Salt Lake City Police Department officially closed Christine Gallegos' murder case on May 15, 2025, exactly 40 years after her death.
Ricky Lee Stallworth, who was 27 years old and stationed at Hill Air Force Base at the time of the murder, has been conclusively identified as her killer through DNA evidence and genealogical research.
Though Stallworth's death in July 2023 prevented any legal prosecution, the identification brings a measure of closure to Christine's family and demonstrates the power of advancing forensic technology in solving decades-old cold cases.
