BOX ELDER COUNTY — Authorities confirmed Tuesday that a Dec. 16 investigation into a “tragic incident” has been ruled a murder-suicide, involving a Tremonton father who killed his 7-year-old daughter before taking his own life.
The Tremonton-Garland Police Department had remained tight-lipped about the initial emergency response to protect the integrity of the investigation. However, in a statement released Tuesday, Police Chief Dustin Cordova clarified the nature of the deaths, describing the event as an isolated domestic tragedy.
“All evidence confirms this was an isolated domestic incident in which a father intentionally killed his child before taking his own life,” Cordova said.
While the police department declined to officially release the names of the deceased to protect the juvenile victim’s identity and the privacy of the surviving family, local obituaries and community memorials have identified the pair as 36-year-old Ricky Gonzales and his daughter, Rissa AdaLynn Gonzales. Rissa was a second-grade student.
A fundraiser established by a close friend of the girl’s mother described the immense burden now facing the family. The organizer noted that the mother “now has to plan for a funeral and all the expenses” for a child whose life was cut short at just 7 years old.
The news has deeply impacted the small Tremonton community, which has already endured a violent and grief-stricken year. In August, the Tremonton-Garland Police Department lost two of its own, Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, who were shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call. A Box Elder County sheriff’s deputy and a K-9 officer were also wounded in that same exchange.
Chief Cordova acknowledged the cumulative trauma affecting both the community and his staff.
“This is a devastating loss. As a police chief and as a parent, there are no words that truly capture the pain of losing a child,” Cordova said. “My heart is with the family and loved ones who are now facing unimaginable grief. This year has been an especially heavy one for our community and for our department.”
The chief added that support resources have been provided to the officers who responded to the Dec. 16 scene, noting that such calls leave a “lasting impact” on first responders.