A man who murdered an 18-year-old woman in Utah four decades ago has finally been identified, authorities said Thursday.

Christine Gallegos was found dead on May 16, 1985, along Jefferson Street in Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake City Police Department said. She had been beaten, stabbed, sexually assaulted and shot to death near an area known then as Dirk’s Field.

Detectives were unable to find any leads despite years of investigative efforts and multiple rounds of forensic testing. The case went cold and remained so until 2023, when advances in DNA and genealogical testing connected the case to a man named Ricky Lee Stallworth.

Stallworth was a 27-year-old airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base at the time of the Gallegos’ murder, according to police. He died of natural causes in July 2023.

Gallegos’ mother, Leah, thanked investigators for “never giving up” on solving the case.

The mother of Christine Gallegos, Leah Gallegos, speaks during a news conference at the Salt Lake City Police Department. (Salt Lake City Police Department)

“You never quit thinking about it. You never quit crying about it,” Leah Gallegos said when reporters asked about her memories of her daughter.

“I wonder about the kids that she would have…” she added. “She was outgoing, she was sweet … they took so much away when they took her away.”

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Steve O’Camb said he hoped that identifying the killer would bring the family closure.

“Handcuffs, however, do not equal healing,” O’Camb said. “The resolution of Christine’s case is a prime example. We weren’t able to arrest a suspect, but hopefully we achieved some measure of justice for her and the family and friends that loved her.”