A Utah man was convicted on Friday for killing a younger couple and throwing their our bodies down an deserted mine shaft as a result of they have been spending time along with his then-girlfriend.
Jerrod Baum, 45, faces life in jail for the killing of Brelynne ‘Breezy’ Otteson, 17, and Riley Powell, 18 who went lacking on the finish of 2017.
Prosecutors say Baum murdered the 2 youngsters after he discovered them along with his girlfriend, Morgan Lewis, at her dwelling in Eureka, Utah. Baum turned explosive upon seeing the three collectively after he banned Lewis from having male pals over, together with Powell, who she beforehand dated.
Lewis informed investigators that Baum had come to her home a day later to select her up ‘to have a chat,’ all whereas the 2 teenagers have been tied up at the back of his jeep. The jury was informed that Baum drove them to an deserted mine outdoors the previous silver mining city, and beat and stabbed Powell and lower Ottenson’s throat, in response to Fox 13.
Baum dumped the teenager’s our bodies into the mine shaft, the place they have been discovered months later.
The jury deliberated for greater than 18 hours earlier than delivering the responsible verdict.
Throughout closing arguments, deputy Utah County legal professional Christine Scott reminded jurors of the tedious seek for Powell and Otteson that started in December of 2017.
‘Jerrod Baum kidnapped Riley and Breezy, murdered Riley and Breezy. Consider their our bodies within the mineshaft. We ask that you simply discover him responsible,’ she stated.
Dallas Younger, the legal professional for Baum, informed jurors they weren't being requested to resolve whether or not what occurred was horrible, however whether or not or not prosecutors proved the crimes have been dedicated by Baum.
Younger argued that your complete case held on Lewis’ account of occasions, and that her story modified over time.
‘With out Morgan (Lewis), there isn't any case as a result of all of this — this spectacular array of all these items that you simply see — none of it implicates Jerrod within the slightest,’ Younger stated. ‘You can not consider her, and also you can't be satisfied past an affordable doubt.’
Deputy Utah County legal professional Ryan McBride informed jurors the our bodies of Otteson and Powell have been solely discovered as a result of Lewis got here ahead and informed police the place to look.
The households of the slain teenagers have been emotional because the verdicts have been learn. Otteson’s aunt, Amanda Davis, informed media retailers how listening to the phrase ‘responsible’ was a significant aid.
‘It’s been a tense 4 years, and to listen to that first “responsible” was, it was prefer it was a weight lifted. It’s been lengthy overdue, however we did it,’ she stated. ‘We obtained justice for the children.’
Along with two counts of aggravated homicide, the jury additionally discovered Baum responsible of six different prices: two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of abuse or desecration of a useless human physique and obstructing justice. For the aggravated homicide prices, Baum faces a possible most sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole.
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