Reward in Rosie Tapia cold case grows to $100k

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — New reward money is now being offered for information in the murder of Rosie Tapia, who was abducted and killed 27 years ago this weekend.

"So whoever took her, come forward," said Lewine Tapia, Rosie's mother who has been steadfast in keeping her daughter's memory and the criminal case alive. "If this was your child, wouldn't you want justice for them also?"

On Saturday, loved ones placed flowers on the bank of a canal near 1700 South and Redwood Road, near the apartment complex where Rosie, six years old, was kidnapped in the middle of the night. Her body was found hours later in the canal.

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Private investigator Jason Jensen, a co-founder of the Cold Case Coalition who has investigated Rosie's killing since 2016, said the reward had been $35,000, but he's contributing out of his own pocket to bring it to $100,000.

Saturday, he said he believes some people know who the killer is, and they may have children now.

"You cannot look at your 6-year-old and not see Rosie Tapia's face in your little loved one," said Jensen, urging people with information to "make right with the community, make right with God."

The Tapia family would like the reward to grow even more, and Jensen said people can contact him at jason@jenseninvestigations.com.

"I can't bring her back," said Lewine Tapia, "but I have her memories to keep me going, and I just want to solve her case."