February 22, 2025

Media Contact Information

PolicePIO@slc.gov

https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

SLCPD Cancels AMBER Alert, Child Safely Recovered; Four People Arrested in Kidnapping and Obstruction Case

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) is providing an update on a kidnapping and obstruction of justice case that resulted in an AMBER Alert being issued.

Officers have arrested four people, including the child’s mother.

The baby girl remains safe and is now in the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

The SLCPD is no longer using her name or photo. Media is requested to please consider her privacy.

According to court documents, on February 21, 2025, a court took away Holly Angelina Smith’s custodial right. The court ordered the 18-month-old girl into state custody​ for her safety and well-being.

Despite being present at the hearing, and aware of the ruling, Smith is accused of leaving with the baby girl and she received help from at least three others​.

After being notified of the alleged kidnapping, SLCPD patrol officers began an extensive search looking for Smith and the baby girl.

The on-duty Watch Commander coordinated additional resources within the SLCPD to include requesting help from the SLCPD’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT).

Other SLCPD resources across the city responded to help search, including the SLCPD’s Homeless Resource Center squads and Bike Squad.

During the search, officers received information from a person who knew Smith and directed them to the area of Redwood Road and Paxton Avenue.

When officers got to the area late Friday night, they saw a person matching Smith’s description with a man hiding behind a shopping cart.

During their investigation, officers searched the shopping cart and found the baby girl hidden under several blankets. Officers also found a glass pipe containing white and burnt residue in the shopping cart. This suspected drug paraphernalia is commonly used for smoking controlled substances​.

Smith is accused of initially providing false identifying information. Officers confirmed Smith’s identity on scene.

Officers requested paramedics respond to conduct a medical evaluation of both Smith and the baby girl.

Officers did not see any visible signs of injury to the baby girl.

Officers booked the following four people into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail:

Holly Angelina Smith – 32

·       Child kidnapping

·       Child endangerment

·       Providing false or misleading information to law enforcement

Jose Francisco Robles-Prieto – 47

·       Felony obstruction of justice

·       Child endangerment

It is alleged that Robles-Prieto knew about the AMBER Alert but helped conceal Smith and the baby girl and provided false information to officers to hinder the investigation​.

Joey Jimenez – 41

·       Felony obstruction of justice

It is alleged that Jimenez helped transport Smith and the baby girl away from officers during the investigation and actively helped Smith in her attempt to hide from SLCPD.

Eric Mathew Jimenez – 37

·       Felony obstruction of justice

It is alleged that Jimenez was in the car used to help Smith hide and that he refused to provide officers with information on the baby girl’s location, delaying SLCPD’s ability to safely find her.

The Salt Lake City Police Department would like to recognize its officers, detectives, and professional staff who worked on the initial portions of this investigation, including the search. Detectives conducted surveillance of known places Smith may be and utilized technology to try and pinpoint her location.

The SLCPD also wants to acknowledge the outside law enforcement agencies who reached out to assist.

Throughout the investigation, SLCPD detectives assigned to the statewide Child Abduction Response Team (CART) received updates and assisted with the case.

This case remains under active investigation, and additional charges may be considered.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The information contained in this news release is based on a preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department. As the investigation progresses, information may change.

###