A Mexican illegal immigrant high on methamphetamine allegedly slit a woman’s throat multiple times and left her in an alley in Salt Lake City.
Jesus Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla, 30, has been charged with attempted murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault resulting in serious injury and possession of drug paraphernalia by local authorities.
The woman was found bleeding, with a deep cut along her neck, crying in an alley on March 18. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and initially listed in critical condition.
Ramirez-Padilla reportedly confessed to the crime after being apprehended and told investigators he “had been having thoughts of killing someone,” according to court documents.
🚨SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Jesus Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla is a dangerous criminal illegal alien who violently strangled and slit a woman’s throat multiple times.
This monster was high on methamphetamine when he allegedly attacked a woman in an alley—strangling her from behind as… https://t.co/NfPAVJ3XRx— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 23, 2026
He told investigators he slit her throat to “put her out of her misery,” police wrote in a police booking affidavit.
Following his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer on Ramirez-Padilla to ensure he is not released back into American communities.
The tally of Mexican illegal immigrants arrested for crimes against women in Utah continues to climb with several serious assaults making headlines in recent weeks.
Utah, and particularly the Salt Lake City area, was a hotbed for migrants who entered the country under President Joe Biden.
Salt Lake City ranked among the top metro areas to settle, with 1,685 immigrant arrivals for every 100,000 residents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection data by state and metropolitan area.
According to court documents, Ramirez-Padilla is a Mexican national “with ties to Mexico and does not have any U.S. identifying documents.”
Investigators recovered surveillance video of Ramirez-Padilla and the woman entering the alley, KSL News reported.
“The footage further shows (the woman) on the ground with a wheelbarrow over her body,” the affidavit states. “(The woman) is then seen walking into the alley. (She) is moaning and crying and appears to be in pain and having a difficult time standing.”
Once apprehended, he reportedly told police that he was smoking meth with the woman and he “had been having thoughts of killing someone, and today, he decided that he was going to kill (the woman).”
Ramirez-Padilla illegally entered the country at an unknown place and time, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Ramirez-Padilla was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and remained there as of Tuesday, Fox News Digital reported.
DHS has requested local authorities keep him in custody or turn him over to ICE.
“We are calling on politicians to not release this barbaric criminal from jail and into American neighborhoods,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This criminal illegal alien has no place in American communities.”
Ramirez-Padilla told police he met the victim the previous night, and they met up to take drugs together the night of the alleged stabbing, Fox News Digital reported.
Salt Lake police first responded to reports of a woman “crying and moaning” in an alley, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Investigators were able to obtain footage from a nearby homeowner’s surveillance camera, which captured some of the incident and led to Ramirez-Padilla’s arrest.
That footage showed the victim walking into the alley with a Hispanic man. It also captured the man leaving the area and moving under a covered structure, KUTV 2 reported.
The suspect was seen returning to the alley, climbing a fence and fleeing through nearby private property. In the video, the woman could be heard moaning and struggling to stand.
Police located the suspect, later identified as Ramirez-Padilla, a short time later and said he had “what appeared to be blood stains on his hands and pants,” KSL News reported.
According to court documents, Ramirez-Padilla reportedly confessed to the crime and gave investigators details of the attack. He said he strangled the woman from behind until she became unconscious and fell to the ground.
He allegedly told detectives he intended to kill the woman and his state of mind was altered from ingesting drugs.
“Once on the ground, Jesus placed his hands around (her) neck and continued (choking her),” police wrote in the affidavit. “Jesus said he wanted to take (the woman) out of her misery and then used a blade to cut her throat two or three times.”
An arresting officer wrote that Ramirez-Padilla poses a “substantial danger” to the community and should not be released on bail. Besides his ties to Mexico, he lacks U.S. identification and is considered a high flight risk.
ICE also shared news of a major meth bust on I-15 in southern Utah last week. “170 POUNDS OF METH FOUND IN ILLEGAL ALIEN’S CAR ON I-15 IN UTAH,” ICE posted on X.
170 POUNDS OF METH FOUND IN ILLEGAL ALIEN’S CAR ON I-15 IN UTAH
Mexican illegal alien Robert Galicia-Hernandez was arrested during a traffic stop March 16 in St. George by ICE @HSIDenver special agents and charged with felony possession of synthetic drugs for allegedly… pic.twitter.com/7aHpOgdOy5
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) March 21, 2026
Mexican illegal alien Robert Galicia-Hernandez was arrested during a traffic stop March 16 in St. George, Utah, near the state’s southern border with Arizona. He was charged with felony possession of synthetic drugs for allegedly attempting to smuggle the drugs into the state.
Galicia-Hernandez overstayed his visitor visa and can expect to face deportation proceedings after facing justice for this crime, ICE officials said.
