A 30-year-old former West Valley City man is facing serious felony charges in Weber County, accused of kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl he allegedly met on Instagram in 2021. Prosecutors recently filed the case in 2nd District Court and, soon after, a judge signed an arrest warrant for Chad Jason Torres‑Cruz. Investigators say the girl was taken to the Pineview Reservoir area and later found with injuries at a motel, a case that has now prompted Utah authorities to seek his return from Washington state.
According to KSL, the Weber County Attorney's Office has charged Torres‑Cruz with child kidnapping and rape of a child, both first-degree felonies, for alleged conduct between Aug. 7, 2021, and Aug. 6, 2022. The girl reportedly disclosed what happened to her sisters, who then gave corroborating statements. Investigators say they linked a truck registered to Torres‑Cruz, along with wage records from his trucking job, to details the victim provided. After prosecutors filed the case, the court issued an arrest warrant.
What The Charging Papers Allege
Court documents, as outlined by ABC4 and republished by AOL, state that Torres‑Cruz met the teen on Instagram, then picked her up from her home and raped her in the Pineview area. The filings say he later messaged her to apologize and arranged another meeting. The girl told investigators she woke up in a motel room with no memory of what had happened and without her pants. Authorities also told the Utah victim they had a booking photo and other material from a Washington investigation to help with identifying the suspect.
Custody And Extradition
Records indicate Torres‑Cruz was arrested in Spokane in June 2025 and is currently being held at the Spokane County Jail. The county lists the facility at 1100 W Mallon Avenue. Weber County prosecutors are now seeking to have him extradited to Utah so he can face the newly filed charges. Any transfer and subsequent Utah court appearances will depend on the formal extradition process and coordination between the two states.
Other Victims And Ongoing Probes
The 2nd District charging documents also reference another young victim identified in Seattle, and KSL reports that DNA collected after a separate 2025 arrest in Spokane allegedly tied Torres‑Cruz to a Washington case. Prosecutors in both Utah and Washington are pursuing related investigations. No trial dates have been set yet in the Utah case.
Legal Context
Under Utah law, rape of a child is a first-degree felony that can carry a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, according to the state statute (Utah statute). All of the charges described here are allegations, and Torres‑Cruz is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. His first Utah court appearance will depend on how and when extradition is finalized.
