Woman released on probation for role in killing after helping secure her mom's conviction

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Natalie Aguilar, 21, received probation for manslaughter and aggravated burglary charges after her prison sentence was suspended.
• Her mother, Ariana Aguilar, will be sentenced for murder on July 21 related to the same killing after Natalie Aguilar testified at her jury trial.
• Jorge Llamas was killed by teens who were encouraged to confront him by Ariana Aguilar, according to charges.

SALT LAKE CITY — A mom said what another woman and a group of teenagers did to her son is "unforgivable." She said her son lost his life, and she encouraged those who were charged and convicted in his death to consider her position.

"If they are aware of what they did they should accept each and every consequence," Gloria Marquez said. "I know I'll never have my son back."

Her son, Jorge Llamas, 21, was woken up and shot by multiple teenagers who came to his Taylorsville home, charging documents say. They claim the individuals were encouraged by Ariana Aguilar — a woman Llamas had kicked out earlier that evening on Oct. 13, 2024.

At a sentencing Monday for Aguilar's daughter, one of the teenagers involved, Marquez said she knows justice through the court system won't bring her son back, but it is something he would have wanted.

"He was such a good person, and perhaps this was also his worst mistake," the mom told the judge. "I will miss my son for all eternity."

Natalie Estella Aguilar, 21, was sentenced to two terms of one to 15 years in prison for manslaughter and aggravated burglary, second-degree felonies, but 3rd District Judge Patricia Kuendig suspended those sentences instead ordering her to spend five years on probation. The judge also gave her credit for the almost two years she had already spent behind bars while her case was pending.

Her mother, Ariana Aguilar, 46, of Ogden, was found guilty in a jury trial on April 23 after her daughter testified. She will be sentenced on July 21 for murder and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; two counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and retaliation against a witness, victim or informant, a third-degree felony.

Ariana Aguilar was on top of Llamas when police arrived. She was dating Llamas at the time and told police she didn't know who had shot him or where the gun was.

Earlier, Natalie Aguilar received a call from her mother saying they needed to "jump" Llamas, the charges say. Another person reported to police that Ariana Aguilar had claimed Llamas had "put hands on" her. One teen reported they were just planning to "scare" Llamas but that someone must have put a bullet in the gun.

Natalie Aguilar's attorney, Craig Stanger, said she was not going to make a statement at her sentencing, citing anxiety, but said she has expressed remorse and is taking steps to be a better person.

"This kind of sentence (is) always tough, because you can't bring back the person, but I know Ms. Aguilar wishes she had made many different decisions that night," he said.

Alejandro Mendoza, 19, of Ogden, was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated burglary, second-degree felonies, as part of a plea deal. Like Natalie Aguilar, he was given two sentences of one to 15 years in prison, which were suspended, and was ordered to spend five years on probation.

Two other teenagers, between 14 at 16 at the time of the killing, were charged with obstruction of justice, one pleaded guilty and charges were dismissed against the other.

Another teenager, who Natalie Aguilar reported fired the gun, entered a guilty plea to murder, a first-degree felony, and sentenced to secure care in juvenile court on May 11. Third Juvenile District Court Judge Tupakk Renteria extended the juvenile court's jurisdiction so he could be held in juvenile detention until he is 25, the maximum sentence the court can impose. As part of a plea deal, charges against him for aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and possession of a weapon, a third-degree felony, were dismissed.

Two other teenagers, between 14 at 16 at the time of the killing, were charged with obstruction of justice; one pleaded guilty, and charges were dismissed against the other.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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Emily Ashcraft

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Emily Ashcraft is a reporter for KSL. She covers issues in state courts, health and religion. In her spare time, Emily enjoys crafting, cycling and raising chickens.