SILENT WITNESS

Young mother’s 1991 murder in Phoenix remains unsolved

Jun 12, 2023, 1:00 PM

The scene of Nicole Aguilera's murder. (Silent Witness Photo)

(Silent Witness Photo)

This article originally appeared Aug. 17, 2015.

This especially brutal murder has baffled Phoenix Police investigators for more than two decades.

Detective Dominick Roestenberg, with Phoenix’s Cold Case Unit, badly wants to find the killer of Nicole Aguilera, an 18-year-old mother of two.

“It’s frustrated us in the fact that, 24 years later, we still haven’t been able to come up with any viable leads,” he said.

Aguilera had a 3-year- old and a 5-month-old and was trying her best to make it on her own. She was living in an apartment by herself near Third Avenue and Buckeye Road. On Jan. 17, 1991, a friend came by to check on Aguilera after she was unable to contact her. When Aguilera didn’t answer the door, the friend called police.

“Once inside, they found a very horrific, brutal murder inside and it looked like a struggle had taken place,” Roestenberg said.

Then, the officers heard a baby crying. They found Aguilera’s infant daughter in a bedroom, unharmed. The 3-year-old had been at a relative’s house.

“We believe [Aguilera] knew her attacker or attackers, if more than one person was involved,” Roestenberg said. “There was no forced entry and no items appeared stolen.”

He said it was common knowledge that Aguilera kept her doors locked but the back door was found unlocked and slightly ajar. The front door was found deadbolted.

Investigators have exhausted all leads in Aguilera’s murder, but, evidence from the scene has been saved.

It’s hoped with today’s technological advancements in forensic sciences, investigators will finally get they break they need.

Read more about the case here.

Silent Witness

three dogs stolen from an airbnb...

Jayme West

Police searching for 3 dogs stolen from Phoenix Airbnb in June

The dognapping happened near 12th Street and Dunlap Avenue on Friday, June 16, 2023, sometime in the afternoon.

3 days ago

two silent witness photos of suspects...

Jayme West

Chandler, Mesa police searching for distinctively dressed suspects

These two cases are completely unrelated but they do have something in common because both suspects were wearing something very distinctive.

15 days ago

do not cross displayed on words of tape...

Jayme West

Police looking for shooter in Phoenix man’s 2011 death

Michael Arvallo, a father and son, was driving on Interstate 10 in Phoenix when he was fatally shot by an unknown person in September 2011.

23 days ago

people caught on camera doing illegal activity...

Jayme West

Phoenix police searching for suspects in separate crimes at fast food restaurant McDonalds

Be on the lookout for a couple of McCrooks. Police are searching for the suspects involved in criminal activity at McDonalds in Phoenix.

1 month ago

police lights on a cop car...

Jayme West

Phoenix restaurant owner robbed, beaten in 2015 case

This week's silent witness cases are about an owner who was robbed at gunpoint and a driver who had her possessions stolen.

1 month ago

caution tape in front of a fence...

Jayme West

Phoenix mother, unborn child killed at home in 2012

Phoenix police are searching for a man suspected in the murder of 22-year-old Sheila Lomes and her unborn child.

1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

...

re:vitalize

When most diets fail, re:vitalize makes a difference that shows

Staying healthy and losing weight are things many people in Arizona are conscious of, especially during the summer.

...

Ability360

At Ability360, every day is Independence Day

With 100 different programs and services, more than 1,500 non-medically based home care staff, a world-renowned Sports & Fitness Center and over 15,000 people with disabilities served annually, across all ages and demographics, Ability360 is a nationwide leader in the disability community.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Here are the biggest tips to keep your AC bill low this summer

PHOENIX — In Arizona during the summer, having a working air conditioning unit is not just a pleasure, but a necessity. No one wants to walk from their sweltering car just to continue to be hot in their home. As the triple digits hit around the Valley and are here to stay, your AC bill […]

Young mother’s 1991 murder in Phoenix remains unsolved