Overview

• Christine Gallegos, 18, was found beaten, stabbed, and shot in Salt Lake City on May 16, 1985, after hitchhiking to work.
• Advanced DNA analysis in 2023, funded by the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, identified Ricky Lee Stallworth as the likely suspect.
• Stallworth, a 27-year-old airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base at the time of the murder, died of natural causes in July 2023 before being identified.
• A voluntary DNA sample from a family member confirmed Stallworth’s connection to the crime, though his relationship with Gallegos remains unclear.
• The case highlights the role of genetic genealogy and multi-agency collaboration in solving cold cases and brings emotional closure to Gallegos’s family.