Man, 22, found guilty of murder in 2010 killing

WEST JORDAN — After five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted a 22-year-old man of murder Thursday.

Cristian Alzaga was found guilty of murder and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies, and aggravated assault, a second-degree felony in connection with the May 2010 killing of Heather Quast, 18.

On May 26, Quast and a friend, Aric Russom, 21, were in a field next to the Jordan River Parkway Trail, near 1100 West and 3900 South, waiting to make a drug deal when they were both stabbed, police said. Russom was stabbed in the face, near his eye. Quast was struck in the stomach and was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Both Alzaga and Jose Jesus Neri, 21, were charged in connection with the slaying days after the incident. It is believed Neri was responsible for arranging the drug deal that led to Quast's death.

Neri's case is scheduled for trial beginning Feb. 28.

— Emiley Morgan

Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam