LOGAN — Cache County detectives have officially identified the five people, including four children, found dead inside a residence in Richmond as investigators continue working to establish a timeline and determine what caused their deaths.
Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen confirmed the victims were 43-year-old Fermin Palafox Herrera; his 16-year-old son, Abraham Palafox; and his 11-year-old daughter, Emily Guadalupe Palafox.
Detectives also identified two younger victims: 11-year-old Jesus Gabriel Alejandro-Soto and his 5-year-old sister, Gritshen Sadashi Alejandro-Soto. Both children were originally from Huancayo, Peru.
According to investigators, the two families shared the apartment where the bodies were discovered. Palafox Herrera and the father of the Alejandro-Soto children were coworkers, and each father held legal custody of his respective children. Authorities have not publicly identified the second father or disclosed where he was when the victims were located.
The case remains active and under intensive review by the Cache County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives are currently working to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the deaths, examining items collected from inside the residence, and conducting a forensic analysis of a vehicle connected to the home.
The exact cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. Jensen said they are awaiting official autopsy, toxicology, and forensic findings from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. Officials have not stated whether they suspect foul play, accidental exposure, or environmental factors, emphasizing that investigators cannot draw definitive conclusions until forensic reports are returned.
Detectives noted that processing the physical evidence and piecing together a comprehensive timeline will require extensive work. Law enforcement officials continue to review neighborhood activity, inspect mechanical and personal items recovered from the scene, and conduct interviews with coworkers, friends, and relatives.