UNSOLVED: The Murder of Rosie Tapia — A Child Stolen from Her Bedroom, 30 Years Without Justice
In August 1995, six-year-old Rosie Tapia was taken from her Salt Lake City home in the middle of the night. By morning, she was found murdered in a nearby canal. This past August marked the 30th anniversary of Rosie’s death — a case that remains one of Utah’s most haunting mysteries, a story of innocence stolen and justice delayed.
Over the years, the investigation has twisted through rumors, overlooked leads, and heartbreaking dead ends. Rosie’s family — especially her mother, Lewine — has never stopped fighting for answers. And now, three decades later, there is renewed hope.
On August 25, 2025 — just two weeks before this episode’s release — Salt Lake City police announced a fresh appeal to the public. Detectives are actively seeking two men who may hold critical information about Rosie’s abduction and death, and advances in forensic genealogy have given the case new direction.
In this episode, I walk through Rosie’s story from the night she vanished to the most recent developments in 2025, examining the investigation’s failures, the resilience of her family, and the community’s ongoing search for the truth.
If you have any information about the kidnapping and murder of Rosie Tapia, please call 801-799-3000 or submit an anonymous tip through the CityProtect App, referencing case number 95-119190.
TW: This episode includes discussion of crimes against children and sexual violence, and potentially distressing circumstances. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Source Material
Articles
ABC4. “The Justice Files: DNA Sought in Rosie Tapia Murder Investigation.” By Marcos Ortiz. ABC4 News, 2021. https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/the-justice-files-dna-sought-in-rosie-tapia-murder-investigation/
ABC4. “Will a Barbie Doll Help Catch Rosie Tapia’s Murderer?” By Rosie Nguyen. ABC4 News, 2019. https://www.abc4.com/news/will-a-barbie-doll-help-catch-rosie-tapias-murderer/
Charlotte Observer. “Kidnapping Probe Expanded.” By John Hechinger and Gary L. Wright. Charlotte Observer, 1997.
Charlotte Observer. “Molester’s Outburst at Sentencing.” By Gary L. Wright. Charlotte Observer, 1997.
Daily Herald (Provo, UT). “75 Utahns Slain in ’95.” By Associated Press. Daily Herald, 1996.
Daily Herald (Provo, UT). “Autopsy: 6-Year-Old Was Homicide Victim.” By Associated Press. Daily Herald, 1995.
Daily Herald (Provo, UT). “Mother Calls Police Says She Has Daughter.” By Associated Press. Daily Herald, 1995.
Daily Herald (Provo, UT). “Two Girls Drown in Separate Incidents.” By Associated Press. Daily Herald, 1995.
Daily Spectrum (Saint George, UT). “Killer Still Sought 24 Years after Child’s Murder.” By Associated Press. The Spectrum, 2019.
Daily Universe. “BYU Journalists Release Documentary Short on Rosie Tapia Cold Case.” By Josh Carter. The Daily Universe, 2018.
Deseret News. “Remembering Rosie: A Utah Family Searches for Hope and Justice in the 23-Year-Old Unsolved Murder of Rosie Tapia.” By McKayla Robinson. Deseret News, 2018. https://www.deseret.com/2018/8/11/20650578/remembering-rosie-a-utah-family-searches-for-hope-and-justice-in-the-23-year-old-unsolved-murder-of-rosie-tapia
Deseret News. “Salt Lake Police Release Sketch in Unsolved ’95 Murder Case.” By Dennis Romboy. Deseret News, 2010. https://www.deseret.com/2010/8/11/20130328/salt-lake-police-release-sketch-in-unsolved-95-murder-case
Elko Daily Free Press. “Coalition Offers Reward to Solve Utah Cold Cases.” By Associated Press. Elko Daily Free Press, 2018.
Fox News. “Barbie Doll Left on Grave Could Provide Clues to Solve Cold Case Rape, Murder of 6-Year-Old Girl in Utah.” By Travis Fedschun. Fox News, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/us/barbie-doll-left-on-grave-could-provide-clues-to-solve-cold-case-rape-murder-of-6-year-old-girl-in-utah
KSL. “Could Barbie Have Answers to Infamous Utah Cold Case Murder?” By Pat Reavy. KSL.com, 2019. https://www.ksl.com/article/46591944/could-barbie-have-answers-to-infamous-utah-cold-case-murder
KUTV. “25 Years after Abduction, 6-Year-Old Rosie Tapia’s Murder Remains Unsolved.” By McKenzie Stauffer. KUTV News, 2020. https://kutv.com/news/local/25-years-after-abduction-6-year-old-rosie-tapias-murder-remains-unsolved
KUTV. “Barbie Doll Left on Murdered 6-Year-Old’s Grave: Who Put It There?” By McKenzie Stauffer. KUTV News, 2019. https://kutv.com/news/local/barbie-doll-left-on-murdered-6-year-old-rosie-tapias-grave-who-put-it-there
KUTV. “Cops Scour Archive News Footage Searching for Clues in 6-Year-Old’s Unsolved Murder.” By Jeremy Harris. KUTV News, 2019. https://kutv.com/news/local/cops-scour-archive-news-footage-searching-for-clues-in-6-year-olds-unsolved-murder
KUTV. “New Leads in ’95 Murder of 6-Year-Old Girl Gives Family Hope.” By Dan Rascon. KUTV News, 2020. https://kutv.com/news/local/new-leads-in-95-murder-of-6-year-old-girl-gives-family-hope
Longview Daily News (WA). “Cops’ Use of DNA Raises Questions.” By Lindsey Van Ness. Longview Daily News, 2019.
Salt Lake Tribune. “6-Year-Old Girl Was Assaulted before Drowning, Say Police.” By Joshua B. Good. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “A Year Later, Police Still Have No Leads in Girl’s Abduction, Murder.” By Joshua B. Good. Salt Lake Tribune, 1996.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Because Cop Cares, He’s on the Air.” By Shawn Foster. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Girl Found Dead in S.L. Canal.” By Joshua B. Good. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Girl Missing from Aunt’s Apartment Was with Mother.” By Colleen Diskin. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Murder Suspect Questioned About 1995 Killing.” By Greg Burton. Salt Lake Tribune, 1997.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Night Guard to Patrol Apartment Complex.” Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Police Hint at New Lead in Young Girl’s Murder.” By Matt Canham. Salt Lake Tribune, 2004.
Salt Lake Tribune. “PROTECTING THE CHILDREN.” Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “There’s Safety in Numbers.” By Joshua B. Good. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Unsolved Murders.” By Vince Horiuchi. Salt Lake Tribune, 2000.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Who Would Snatch a Sleeping Child in Utah? FBI Trying to Find Out.” By Joshua B. Good. Salt Lake Tribune, 1995.
Times-News (Twin Falls, ID). “Utah’s List of Missing Children Grows Longer.” By Associated Press. Times-News, 1995.
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Tooele, UT). “Abduction/Homicide Finding Released.” Tooele Transcript-Bulletin, 1995.
Documentaries
Discovery+. On the Case with Paula Zahn: She’s Gone. Discovery+, 2019.
Videos
ABC4 Utah. “23 Years Later, Rosie Tapia Murder Remains Unsolved.” YouTube video, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIdHL4qXCrM
ABC4 Utah. “Cold Case Coalition Launches New Project on 25th Anniversary of 6-Year-Old Rosie Tapia’s Murder.” YouTube video, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE3HVRbqQkU
ABC4 Utah. “Composite of Suspect in Rosie Tapia Murder Goes Viral.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDzkCxu-8q0
ABC4 Utah. “Justice Files: Composite Image of Rosie Tapia Killer Released.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kqsn2aZMLc
ABC4 Utah. “New Details in Rosie Tapia Murder Investigation.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjIGYF2DUE
ABC4 Utah. “New Tip Could Turn Rosie Tapia Murder in a New Direction.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDWQUsIMm54
ABC4 Utah. “The Justice Files: A Break? Or Just Coincidence in Rosie Tapia Cold Case.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq8nWyfY0dE
ABC4 Utah. “The Justice Files: A Second Person of Interest Uncovered in Rosie Tapia Murder.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nH1yC5Ez8w
ABC4 Utah. “The Justice Files: Police Investigating Latest Rosie Tapia Tips.” YouTube video, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A6Vlz-Z4sA
KSL News. “Rosie Tapia Murder Story 8-14-1995.” YouTube video, 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ddrXMW2aY
KUTV 2 News. “Rosie Tapia Murder 1995 Story 1.” YouTube video, 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeZ1h1fM2HQ
KUTV 2 News. “Rosie Tapia Murder 1995 Story 2.” YouTube video, 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l49k5TgATjk
KUTV 2 News. “Rosie Tapia Murder 1995 Story 3.” YouTube video, 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt7TeS4KQjE
McKayla Robinson. “Rosie Tapia’s Family on Losing Rosie.” YouTube video, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdD8aNG5mQY
TyneRoseMedia. “Cold Case in Utah Rosie Tapia ~ Child Kidnapped, Sexually Assaulted and Murdered in 1995.” YouTube video, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgn2h2D9cPo
