Salt Lake City man charged with obstruction in unsolved 2016 homicide case at Great Saltair

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has charged a Salt Lake man with obstruction of justice in an eight year old unsolved murder.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Jesse Mascaro, 35, is said to have “hindered, delayed or prevent an investigation” from running its course.

In February 2016, Unified Police were called out to the Great Saltair, where they found the body of a 22-year-old who was shot and killed. The 22-year-old had two gunshot wounds, one in the cheek and one in the chest, the affidavit states. The Utah Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.

Unified Police went through the 22-year-old’s “associates” and interviewed the accused in 2016.

“Mascaro was questioned regarding an individual who would become a suspect in the investigation. When the investigator asked Mascaro, “…so you don’t know [suspect] very well?” Mascaro responded, “I don’t know who the hell that is,” according to the affidavit.

Mascaro said he may have met the suspect once or twice but, “I don’t really know who he is or what he’s about or, or anything,” the affidavit continued.

Detectives later learned that Mascaro and the homicide suspect had allegedly worked at the same small company of 10 individuals together, according to the press release.

Reportedly, the owner of that business had introduced [Mascaro] to the unnamed homicide suspect in 2016, the press release states.

“Some cases take a significant amount of time to investigate and obtain the necessary evidence to lead to charges being filed. This case has been under investigation for more than eight years, but the charges filed today underscore our commitment to ensuring that justice is served for the victim and his family,” Sam Gill, Salt Lake County District Attorney, said in the release.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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