Utah (KUTV) — Police have officially identified the woman found dead in a car in Bluffdale and said the suspect was "in a relationship" with the victim was found in the back of 40-year-old Jacob Holt Johnson's car in Bluffdale Tuesday Police said Roney and Johnson were "in a relationship." Johnson transported Roney's body in his vehicle from his home on Stone Hayes Court in Herriman to a 7-11 parking lot in Bluffdale Police were contacting Johnson as part of a DUI investigation when they discovered Roney's body in the vehicle Court documents from a DUI arrest on Johnson in 2022 said he has been previously convicted of Aggravated Robbery Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute police requested a "higher than normal bail amount" due to a "defiant attitude" and his criminal history It has not yet been made clear how Roney was killed Herriman Police are continuing to investigate the homicide Roney's family released a statement about the situation Wednesday If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic or dating violence If you or a loved one are in immediate danger The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-897-5465 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 The Utah-based Rape Recovery Center can be reached at 801-467-7273 A list of local domestic violence shelters can be found at domesticshelters.org. Resources and shelter are also available through the YWCA of Utah Utah — After finding a woman’s body inside a car at a gas station in Bluffdale on Tuesday police have arrested a suspect in connection with her death was booked into Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of a murder charge Court records show a judge found “substantial evidence to support the charge” and ordered him to be held without bail An attorney for the victim's family identified her as Summer Tatiana Roney "“The family of Summer Tatiana Roney is heartbroken by her tragic and untimely loss and loving soul who touched the lives of everyone she met who will always remember her infectious personality and the joy she brought into their lives This senseless act has left an unfillable void in our hearts We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and remember the incredible person Summer is.” Officers with the Herriman Police Department made contact with Johnson at the 7-Eleven gas station on Redwood Road shortly after midnight after receiving a call from the Saratoga Springs Police Department asking for help with a DUI investigation Herriman officers saw a woman’s body in the back of the car She had “significant injuries and trauma that would be consistent with a homicide,” according to the probable cause statement Police then removed Johnson from the car and took him to the Saratoga Springs Police Department for questioning Johnson told officers that he and the victim were “intimate partners currently living together in Herriman,” the document states Johnson also said he was arguing with the woman “stating that it was over with their relationship.” Police asked Johnson during the interview if the woman had any injuries and he said “physical trauma but did not elaborate any further,” the probable cause statement continued “When asked how the victim got into the vehicle Johnson said he put her into the vehicle.” Court records show Johnson previously pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence He’s also pleaded guilty over the years to charges including felony theft and burglary felony drug possession and aggravated robbery FOX 13 News is in contact with investigators and will update this article when we learn more LOCAL NEWS 6:25 PM | Updated: Jan 4 BY GARNA MEJIA BLUFFDALE — The woman allegedly killed by an ex-boyfriend was identified by her family members as Summer Tatiana Roney On Tuesday, police discovered the woman’s body in the backseat of a car at a gas station in Bluffdale. The driver, Jacob Holt Johnson, 40, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder police discovered Roney’s body in the backseat of Johnson’s car at a 7-11 gas station “the victim had significant injuries and trauma consistent with a homicide.” Johnson was taken to the Saratoga Springs Police Department and told officers he was in a “previous argument with the victim stating that it was over with their relationship.” “When asked by officers if the victim had any injuries Johnson stated physical trauma but did not elaborate any further When asked how the victim got into the vehicle Johnson said he put her into the vehicle,” the arresting document said “The family of Summer Tatiana Roney is heartbroken by her tragic and untimely loss We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and remember the incredible person Summer was.” Several of Roney’s friends told KSL TV they would miss their friend and cherish their time together love and joy into our lives and it will never be forgotten,” said Christina Urcino I believe she will always be with us,” added Kayleigh White “Guiding us to find happiness when we think of her.” Roney’s friends also want the person responsible for her death to be held accountable and face justice “This was not fair; justice must be served,” said Victoria Spencer Tischner described Roney as a vulnerable adult and said Johnson was manipulative and abusive Court filings showed Johnson has a criminal rap sheet that includes a history of domestic violence Family members also said Roney was not living with Johnson They suspect Johnson took her to his home because she didn’t have a driver’s license and Roney was likely trying to end the relationship Herriman police confirmed that Roney was the person found dead in Johnson’s vehicle If you or someone you know is going through abuse SALT LAKE CITY — The husband of Bluffdale Mayor Natalie Hall entered into a plea deal on Monday over criminal charges accusing him of threatening his wife's campaign opponent under a plea in abeyance — meaning if he follows all of the conditions of the plea and not have any contact with former Bluffdale City Councilman Jeffrey Gaston except as part of official business in the civil case they are both involved in The criminal mischief charge is based on allegations that on Aug recklessly endangering the safety of people in the area according to a plea statement signed by Hall In exchange for Hall's plea to that charge the state dismissed charges of threatening an elected official a third-degree felony; plus stalking and making threats to influence public action Jason Hall sent mocking emails to Gaston anonymously then later hired an employee to deliver threatening letters and packages on his behalf This included a threatening note telling Gaston to leave Bluffdale and a box of "gag gifts" sent to the city offices with instructions on how to use the gifts to deal with Gaston during a meeting who at the time was running against Natalie Hall for mayor eventually dropped out of the race "due directly to the threats sent to him and his family," court documents state adding that Gaston was was "significantly ahead in the polls" when he started receiving the threats Gaston continued receiving threatening emails and packages through November 2021 just before the man who was sending and delivering packages was identified as a co-worker of Jason Hall One letter mailed to Gaston's house after the election ended with you have shown that you will not change until something is done Gaston also filed a civil lawsuit against the Halls in 2023 "With the state's case now behind them the Halls will respond to the allegations in Mr The Halls contend the lawsuit is politically motivated and that Mr Gaston's claims are meritless," the Halls' legal team said in a prepared statement issued Monday Gaston was invited — through his attorney — to take a polygraph test the results of which corroborate that he had no involvement in any threats or alleged assault against Mr the State of Utah agreed to dismiss the charges against Jason Hall related to an alleged threat against former Bluffdale City Councilman Hall entered a plea of no contest to the reduced charge of 'criminal mischief' for tampering with another’s property—specifically Gaston in the booth adjacent to Mayor Hall's during a Bluffdale city event in 2021 Hall agreed to enter this plea as part of a Plea in Abeyance Upon fulfilling the required conditions of this agreement with the State the sole remaining charge will also be dismissed Gaston filed a civil lawsuit against both Mayor Hall and Mr With the State’s case now behind them Gaston’s civil lawsuit in due course Gaston was invited—through his attorney—to take a polygraph test Mr. Hall’s criminal defense team was led by Dentons shareholders Trinity Jordan (SLC) and Aaron Clark (SLC), and associate Jake Lee (SLC) Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com Email me aaron.clark@dentons.com Email me trinity.jordan@dentons.com Email me jake.lee@dentons.com D +1 801 415 3000 Email me daniel.seelos@dentons.com Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates This website and its publications are not designed to provide legal or other advice and you should not take You will now be taken from the global Dentons website to the $redirectingsite website 大成 is a partnership law firm organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and is Dentons' Preferred Law Firm in China with offices in more than 40 locations throughout China Dentons Group (a Swiss Verein) ("Dentons") is a separate international law firm with members and affiliates in more than 160 locations around the world please see dacheng.com/legal-notices or dentons.com/legal-notices Utah (KUTV) — A crash involving 10 vehicles forced the closure of all northbound lanes of I-15 at 14600 South in Bluffdale Icy road conditions reportedly caused one or more vehicles to lose control and crash Northbound I-15 will remain closed in the area as troopers investigate the crash and determine contributing factors Motorists are advised to exit the freeway via 14600 South Silva reported that one individual had been transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries No additional details were immediately available Updates will be provided as more information is released BLUFFDALE — Two Bluffdale police officers were legally justified in shooting a man armed with a gun during a confrontation that started as a call for medical assistance the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced Friday died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound Until Friday, very little information had been released about the shooting incident. On Jan. 24, Bluffdale fire and police crews responded to an undisclosed "medical call" about 8:30 a.m According to District Attorney Sim Gill's final report Thomas had suffered a seizure and locked himself inside his basement room told police officers and firefighters that she could not pick the lock to Thomas' room She also warned "that he gets combative and doesn't know what's happening when he's had a seizure and that he hadn't been talking to her since the seizure" and refused to open the door "(She) explained that it was an alcohol-induced seizure." Five paramedics plus three Bluffdale police officers responded to the house "One of the medics asked (the mother) if (Thomas) had any weapons in there 'Not that I know of,' and then explained that he gets combative with anyone but her and that they'll frighten him," according to the report a paramedic kicked a hole in the lower portion of Thomas' bedroom door and then got on his hands and knees to look into the room In body camera video from the officers involved both paramedics and Thomas' mother can be heard trying to explain to Thomas that they are there to help him the paramedic "jumped up and back as he exclaimed He's got a … pistol!" Gill's report states Gill added Friday that the medic also said "The gun felt like it could have touched my face." Salt Lake County District Attorney displays body camera video Friday from officers who shot a man armed with a gun who was suffering a medical crisis KSL.com)As the paramedic later explained when interviewed as part of the shooting investigation "So I moved the bottom (of the door) and he's right there and he looks at me … crazy-eyed Like he was not in his right mind … he's just not thinking correctly," according to the report "And I see his face and then he takes the gun like to shoot me to like right there." As emergency crews all ran out of the narrow hallway officers Talio Roberts and Garrett Carter — who had been waiting at the back of the hall until that point — grabbed their guns and ordered Thomas to drop his weapon Thomas then poked his head and his gun through the hole in the door and "pointed the gun toward the officers," the report states Thomas' head can be seen poking through the door and he is seen looking directly and the officers before pointing his gun at them The officers began firing toward Thomas while retreating down the hallway to take cover Thomas drops his gun but then picks it up again about 55 seconds after officers finished firing Thomas fired a single round from the revolver to his left temple," according to the report An autopsy determined Thomas was shot twice in his right arm and hand by police But it was the self-inflicted gunshot wound that caused his death "Based upon the facts in this case … we believe that it is reasonable for us to infer that officer Roberts and officer Carter believed they needed to use deadly force against Mr Thomas to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves and/or others," Gill concluded in the report while determining the officers were legally justified in firing their weapons Before holding a press conference on Friday to go over the shooting investigation "They were genuinely concerned about the officers involved with this," he said while adding that they also "have no ill will toward them." It was also important to Thomas' mother that Gill stress that her son did not shoot at police or paramedics Gill called the shooting a "terrible tragedy." When asked if he believes anything can be done so that calls for help for people in crisis don't end in a fatality quick answer that I could give to you because I would have shared that a long time ago There is just no simple answer here," he said Gill said the problem is the moment a gun is introduced to a situation "Those weapons escalate these situations Everyone agrees this was absolutely tragic It's a tragedy for the officers who found themselves having to use deadly force It's a tragedy for the mother who was there who wanted to have help for her children But it was really important for her (to let the public know) that … I just want to make sure you say that he didn't shoot at the officers,'" Gill said The district attorney said the challenge for first responders is balancing trying to help someone in crisis with the volatility of a gun being introduced to the equation And even if they had backed out of the house before kicking a hole in the door some would have questioned why they didn't offer immediate assistance to the man who had suffered a seizure Gill said while also noting that first responders would be subject to "Monday morning quarterbacking" no matter what they do "There is no easy answer," he said Utah — The Jordan School District says a hold that was put on students at Hidden Valley Middle School is now over The hold was put in place by police following threats being made towards the school According to an official with the Jordan School District they were tipped off about the threat from Bluffdale Police The nature of the threat or when it was sent has not been released FOX 13 News has reached out to Bluffdale Police to learn more and will update this article when we hear back 11:01 PM | Updated: 11:01 pm BY MARK JONES BLUFFDALE — Some homeowners in Bluffdale had a close call Saturday evening A brush fire in the area of 16th West and 15400 South broke out near the homes around 6:30 p.m Chief Matt Evans with Buffdale Fire Department Evans said the back deck of the house caught on fire he’s not sure where the fire started However a couple of fences suffered damaged No one was at home where the fire was located and there were no injuries Evans said there was extensive damage to vegetation Crews from Bluffdale and South Jordan were able to put the fire out in roughly 15 minutes Utah (KUTV) — A man is facing a murder charge after a woman was found dead in the backseat of his vehicle Police are investigating the incident as a homicide officers with the Herriman Police Department received a call to help the Saratoga Springs Police Department with a DUI investigation Bluffdale police found the vehicle at a 7-11 gas station on Redwood Road and made contact with the driver they noticed the woman's body in the rear of the vehicle She reportedly had significant injuries and trauma consistent with a homicide READ NEXT: Scientists find 26,000-year-old fox skeleton deep inside Uinta cave Johnson was taken to the Saratoga Springs Police Department where he clarified his relationship with the woman. Johnson reportedly told police he had been arguing with the woman and that it had turned physical, but he did not elaborate further. He also told police he put her body in his vehicle. Johnson was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on one first-degree felony murder charge. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Fatal crash forces hours-long four-lane closure of northbound I-15 in Bluffdaleby Danielle MacKimm Utah (KUTV) — A fatal crash on northbound I-15 near the Salt Lake and Utah County line closed four right-hand lanes Thursday morning which occurred at milepost 286 in Bluffdale shortly before noon on Feb The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene Officials with Utah Highway Patrol said a Mercedes G63 was driving recklessly and speeding on northbound I-15 in the right shoulder the Mercedes veered off to the left and rear-ended a Nissan Sentra MORE:Former BYU men's basketball player killed in crash on I-15 at Point of the Mountain The Mercedes continued going left and hit the concrete median bounced right and sideswiped a Ford Escape then sideswiped a box truck and rolled onto the driver's side Police suspect a medical emergency to be a contributing factor in the crash The drivers of the Nissan and box truck did not have any injuries and the driver of the Escape had minor injuries and was transported to a hospital by ambulance Utah Highway Patrol troopers are investigating the incident The four right-hand lanes were closed for five and a half hours Authorities estimate that the investigation and cleanup could take up to three hours Drivers are advised to use alternate routes No further details were immediately released 2News will provide updates as additional information becomes available BLUFFDALE — Before Jacob Holt Johnson was accused of killing Summer Roney and leaving her body in a car at a Bluffdale gas station Johnson's ex-wife said she endured years of emotional abuse in their marriage and when she attempted last year to secure protective orders amid her ex's increasingly disturbing behavior Christina Owens spoke in detail Thursday about the nine-and-a-half-year marriage with Johnson and what she said were failures by the criminal justice system to protect her children "I knew that he is capable of murder," Owens said "I knew he was capable of this and I reached out to people and they didn't listen." Owens said it wasn't all bad at first when Johnson regularly showered her with compliments and acted sweetly she acknowledged they looked the part of a happy couple "I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time," Owens said Owens said from the very early days her ex-husband struggled with addictions to alcohol and drugs as well as jealousy and attempts to control her "I stopped going to the grocery store," Owens said "He was convinced if I was going to the grocery store I must be going to meet up with a boyfriend." Owens said it was her ex-husband who cheated through multiple affairs he installed cameras "at every angle" of their house "He would accuse me of plotting to have him killed," she said but as she continued to navigate custody with her ex last year she said Johnson's behavior grew increasingly disturbing she said her ex-husband left their children home alone all night and came home with apparent injuries Owens said Johnson claimed he had been jumped in Herriman "My 10-year-old son came home and said dad had a huge cut under his eye and he had scratch marks all over the front of his neck and said he got beat up by some gang members in the middle of the night." Owens said she feared it was possible a woman may have been attacked at that point "You don't get scratch marks all over the front of your neck by getting beaten up by men," Owens said "You do that when you are assaulting a woman." She said her ex then had what she described as a "complete meltdown" in August "He called me and my children and said that Summer (Roney) had tried to kill him that he had all of these wounds all over his body from trying to get them out of his house," Owens said Owens said Roney was a woman her ex-husband had seen on-and-off since their separation and his outlandish claims came at a time of other hallucinations "He was throwing knives at the door at invisible people and that's horrifying," Owens said "That could have been my children." Owens said someone else called police on Johnson two days later "He was out on his front lawn fighting an invisible person and screaming and yelling," Owens said and he admitted to the police at that time that he had six drinks and he had been using cocaine but there were these demons that were after him." Because of the suspected drug use and hallucinations in August Owens said she attempted to obtain a protective order for her children "The 4th District Provo court denied that because they said that it was mental health My children needed to be protected from those knives that were being thrown." Owens said another disturbing chain of events unfolded in November Summer and her brother are here and they are going to murder you guys,'" Owens recalled "He took them outside behind his house in a field and pointed to a window 'Can you see those dark figures in your room?' 'You can't see them because they hide in the walls.'" Owens said when she was prompted to show up at the house her ex had backpacks prepared by the door to take the children "into hiding." She said she persuaded Johnson to keep himself safe and not take the kids and then she subsequently contacted child protective services workers as well as once again attempted to secure a protective order — this time through a different court "This particular judge at the justice court — I thought at least he's going to hear us," Owens said We have the DCFS preliminary report where my son says that he's wobbling and drinking and driving with them where my daughter is saying he's drinking and driving with us every day that he has us and we feel scared of our own dad 'This sounds like a custody stunt so you can take care of this in the other 4th District Court.'" Owens said when Johnson entered in-patient drug and mental health treatment in December she was able to get a judge to grant supervised visitation Johnson walked away from the care facility around Christmas Eve and a week later he was arrested on suspicion of murder in Roney's death "She was so brutally murdered that they couldn't tell," said Owens as she turned emotional "I had police banging on my door that almost cried when I opened the door Owens said she was sharing her story in hopes of raising awareness about emotional abuse inside relationships and marriages and also in hopes of getting judges and other decision-makers to pay attention to what she views as a significant shortcoming in the justice system "My hope and my prayer and my ask is for people to have eyes that see that are willing to look at the evidence in front of them," Owens said These children need to be protected." Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting: Utah (KUTV) — The family of a woman whose body was found in a car in Bluffdale Tuesday has released a statement who the family has identified as Summer Tatiana Roney was found in the back of the suspect's vehicle at a 7-11 gas station in Bluffdale Police identified the suspect as Jacob Johnson Legal personnel from Ault Legal released the family's statement Wednesday: It was not made immediately clear what Roney's relationship to the suspect was Johnson was taken to the Saratoga Springs Police Department where he told police he had been arguing with Roney Johnson has been booked into jail on one charge of first-degree murder Further details about Roney or the situation have yet to be released as of Wednesday evening A list of local domestic violence shelters can be found at domesticshelters.org. Resources and shelter are also available through the YWCA of Utah. 6:57 PM | Updated: 7:10 pm BY EMMA BENSON BLUFFDALE — This time of year can be lonely for a lot of folks but a retreat and wellness farm in Bluffdale is helping people heal through a variety of ways — and today they celebrated a milestone Camille Hawkins gave birth to her stillborn daughter “We learned that our little girl passed away,” Hawkins said “That experience just shattered our whole world.” The Hawkins family is no stranger to loss. But they’ve channeled their grief into helping others. Last year Hawkins and her husband started the Wellness Farm Foundation in memory of Everly “We have created a space where anybody who has suffered from tragedy can come,” Hawkins said Horses at the Wellness Farm Foundation on Friday “There’s not a lot of expectations here at the farm come and take off the heavy burdens that life puts upon us they had a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the renovation of their treatment center which is expected to be complete next September “Although we are operating now, we will have so much more comfort and capacity when we have our full retreat center,” Hawkins said. “One of the most important aspects, I think, of getting through hard things is to connect with other people who have been in similar situations. And that connection brings strength.” the 30-year-old woman found dead in the back of a car in Bluffdale on New Year's Eve are sharing their heartbreak over her tragic death SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Friends of Summer Tatiana Roney Police said Roney’s body was discovered when 40-year-old Jacob Johnson was stopped by officers in a parking lot of a 7-11 in Bluffdale Johnson was arrested in connection with her death Roney's friends describe her as a bright "This girl is one of the brightest people I've ever met if not the brightest," said Alexa Serratore have stayed in touch despite living in different states They were devastated to learn of her death and are struggling to come to terms with the loss "My initial feeling was shock," Serratore said "What kind of evil person would do this to someone so bright?" Her friends recalled how she could be seen dancing wherever she went The news of her death has left them saddened "I hope he realizes what he’s done and who he took from everyone," Serratore said Roney was killed at Johnson’s home in Herriman on New Year’s Eve Her body was then placed in the back of his car and he was found just after midnight at 7-11 on Redwood Road in Bluffdale Roney’s friends are seeking justice and answers “I feel like we should be better for our government and justice system to be there for us,” Serratore said "I hope the full truth comes out of that night A background check revealed that Johnson has a criminal history including convictions for aggravated robbery in 2004 including possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and retail theft now await justice and closure as they remember the life of a woman taken far too soon Utah — The northbound lanes of I-15 were closed Saturday morning following a crash Utah Highway Patrol says involved 10 vehicles While 10 vehicles were confirmed to be involved UHP says only one person was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries The northbound lanes were closed for one hour with traffic diverted at 14600 South as responders worked to clear the scene BLUFFDALE, Utah — Newly released details shed light on the death of a woman whose body was found in a vehicle outside a Bluffdale convenience store on the day of New Year's Eve with the man accused of killing his girlfriend officially being charged with aggravated murder along with three other felony counts Charges were filed Friday against Jacob Holt Johnson by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office The body of Summer Roney was discovered outside a 7-Eleven shortly after midnight on Dec 31 when a Bluffdale Police Department officer noticed an SUV parked at an angle across multiple spaces who was originally found unconscious in the front seat of his SUV other officers noticed a body in the back and took Johnson into custody details showed that Roney's body was found in a cardboard box with an extension cord wrapped around her neck along with multiple bruises and lacerations to her head Among the items found in the SUV after the discovery of Roney's body were a steel hammer During a search of Johnson's Herriman home detectives found blood in locations throughout the house and two trash bags with "multiple items inside that had blood stains," according to the charges Evidence technicians later found blood on the basement carpet along with a cleaning agent One witness told police that Roney and Johnson had an "on-and-off again relationship over the past four years and described Johnson as a hothead." She relayed how Roney had told her on Dec 27 that Johnson had booked a downtown Salt Lake City hotel room for the two and that he was going to pick her up from work the next night It was the last time the witness heard from Roney Another witness shared how Roney told him that Johnson was "verbally abusive" and had hit her multiple times He added that Roney had previously told Johnson to leave her apartment but that he would continually harass her with texts and calls A friend of Roney's told detectives that Johnson had "recently put her in a chokehold nearly killing her," and that she "frequently spoke about the abuse she endured from Johnson including physical fights and emotional distress." Johnson is currently being held in jail without bail on the first-degree felony aggravated murder charge along with one count of second-degree felony obstruction of justice one count of third-degree felony desecration of a human body and one count of third-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restriction person “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the victim in this alleged murder," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill "If you are experiencing domestic violence or are aware of someone who may be experiencing it If it is not reported it cannot be investigated and if it is not investigated Early intervention can help prevent an escalation of violence.” BLUFFDALE — Some members of the Bluffdale City Council are proposing to rename a Bluffdale fire station that was named for a former fire chief arguing that the change is warranted after the former chief pleaded guilty in June to misusing public funds But some residents who are in favor of keeping John Calvin Roberts' name on the fire station have questioned the timing of the resolution which comes shortly after Roberts was named a witness for the prosecution in a criminal case against Bluffdale Mayor Natalie Hall's husband who is charged with threatening elected officials — assault and stalking and threatening to influence an official action and in June pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misuse of public funds meaning the charge could be dismissed after three years if he meets several conditions The City Council approved a resolution in October 2020 — several months after the whistleblower complaints — naming the John C but is now considering another resolution to strip his name from the building Some council members said they didn't know of all the allegations against Roberts at the time the building was named and now say they want to change the name in light of his plea very hard subject," Councilwoman Wendy Aston said She said council members initially believed the allegations against Roberts from whistleblowers involved simple pay discrepancies and payments to vendors for work that was never completed but the City Council plans to revisit the proposal sometime next month "No one is questioning if he's a good person or not but people are layered as well," Councilwoman Traci Crockett said during the meeting "He has admitted to a felony against the city Do all of his good things against the city counteract a felony against the city?" "We don't want to continue to run his name through the mud," she added "I don't want to keep having to talk about that." Roberts ended up signing a "separation" agreement with the city that ended his 40 years with the fire department but allowed him to work for the city in the future in a different position as Roberts ran for mayor against Natalie Hall city leaders issued a news release announcing a new investigation into Roberts' time as fire chief Roberts contended the announcement was politically motivated and pointed to difficulties he faced staffing the department on holidays Some residents say city officials knew about the allegations against Roberts when they named the firehouse after him, and are only threatening to revoke it now that he is involved in the criminal case against the mayor's husband. The resolution proposed on Wednesday lists the allegations outlined by prosecutors against Roberts and critics say it will enshrine the accusations in the city record even if Roberts' case is eventually dismissed told KSL.com after the council meeting Wednesday "It was interesting to listen to some of the comments in there we need to get rid of this because it will unite the city,' which is completely false." "How can this be viewed as anything other than a witch hunt?" she added Rasmussen and others have acknowledged Roberts' admitted wrongdoing but say his long service to the community makes him worthy of having his name on the firehouse but if you actually just look at the facts "Does he have a right to have his name on a building because I think his 40-plus years of service to the city and the community supersedes that." Jeffrey Gaston, a former Bluffdale councilman who ran for mayor against Hall in 2021, accused her and her husband of threatening and harassing him while he was running Gaston eventually dropped out of the race due to the alleged threats He said Jason Hall assaulted him with campaign signs during a city event in August of 2021 where he was operating a booth for Roberts' mayoral campaign Jason Hall also faces charges stemming from those allegations and is scheduled for a jury trial in October during which Roberts is expected to testify Jason Hall has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the mayor has defended him saying that she was threatened and bullied first Roberts previously alleged the city manager and two City Council members showed favoritism toward Natalie Hall during that election when they announced an investigation into his time as chief — more than a year after leaders first received complaints about him About a half dozen supporters of Roberts attended Wednesday's City Council meeting to oppose the resolution and one public commenter accused city officials of having already removed a brass plaque with Roberts' name on it from the fire station in question before the council considered or voted on the resolution City Manager Mark Reid said he was unaware of the removal of the plaque and didn't authorize anyone to take it down but Fire Chief Matt Evans insinuated during the public forum that the plaque may have been taken by Roberts "We don't know when the plaque was removed We noticed the plaque was removed," Evans said "There was an incident where John (Roberts) came to the station on a Saturday and took some stuff out of the station We honestly don't know where it's at." Roberts did not respond to multiple requests for comment and was not present during Wednesday's meeting I saw that it was there and I honestly haven't saw or looked since where's the plaque?'" Reid told the council Evans told KSL.com he is unsure of when the plaque went missing but said it was noticed "probably six we had an incident with the former chief," Evans said "He came to the station and he had taken a few items that he said were his We didn't notice that the plaque was gone then or not He said a police report was filed in the case of the missing items Evans initially said Roberts visited the fire station this summer — which would have been several months after he said the plaque was first noticed missing — but said "I can't tell you what day it was" when pressed on the timeline of the plaque going missing and Roberts' alleged visit to the fire station He later said "it's been a while ago" since Roberts came to the fire station and estimated that it occurred sometime this spring The City Council ultimately tabled the resolution to rename the firehouse after Councilman Steve Austin expressed concern about approving it without the full council present — Councilman Alan Lord was absent The resolution was originally scheduled to be heard Wednesday night on consent meaning the council could vote without public input but it was moved to the normal calendar of business at the start of the meeting "I personally do not feel ready to make a decision on this," Austin said Aston said council members could "vote today or we can bring this back and bring in the district attorney and have him lay the entire case out I don't think that's very fair to John." So members approved reconsidering the resolution during the first meeting in September and hope Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill will be willing to present the details of the case Mayor Hall expressed support for holding a special meeting if Gill is unavailable during their normal meeting time on Sept BLUFFDALE — The mother of an autistic 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed by police after stealing a U.S Army van was initially told that her son went missing from a library in West Jordan sometime in the afternoon prior to the shooting "I didn't get to pray for him that day because they lied and they took that opportunity away from me," Autumn Portwood said of the hours Rising Future staff waited before reporting her son Autumn and Larry Portwood were told that Malachi had sneaked out of the group home where he was supposed to be watched over "The guilt they put on our shoulders will never go away," she said In a text message sent to managers of the care facility where her son had actually walked away from — after she "learned the story about the library was made up" — she stated "You mean to tell me he was missing since the morning?! A simple 'firing' will not be justice for my son!," according to a search warrant affidavit says the Utah Attorney General's Office is continuing to investigate "allegations of patient abuse/neglect and providing false information to police" regarding the case of a 16-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Sandy A similar search warrant was served in April 2024 Malachi's parents decided to break their silence to speak out against Future Rising's alleged negligence and deceitful actions in order to raise awareness for children in similar situations "What scares us the most is there's other kids with these people," Portwood said Army van from a recruiting station at 814 E An officer who was in his own personal vehicle saw what was happening and followed the van while calling 911 South Jordan police attempted to stop the vehicle Police again spotted the van near 9400 South and 700 East. As the van approached Monroe Street, an officer got out of his car to prepare to deploy tire spikes. But as the vehicle was waiting in traffic to make a left turn, the officer called out to the driver at gunpoint to get out of the van, according to body camera video Malachi made a U-turn and began driving into oncoming traffic where he ran into a dead end and turned around at the business complex As he drove back toward the oncoming officers police say the boy "veered" toward an officer who was now outside of his vehicle That officer fired at least eight shots as the van drove by The van then hit a police patrol car blocking its path moments later Malachi was able to get out of the vehicle on his own and lie down on the ground but he could be heard groaning in pain and saying he was "sorry." He died about an hour later The police shooting is still under investigation by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office ADHD as well as Oppositional Defiance Disorder had been placed in a residential group home in Bluffdale you might as well say he was operating at a 10-year-old's level," said Larry Portwood He had a history of sneaking out of group homes Malachi's support plan by the state "had a number of security/safety recommendations for Future Rising to follow which included having locks and alarms on all doors and windows and being supervised 24/7 The (plan) instructed Future Rising to call police and the support coordinator as soon as possible after elopement It also states that staff should follow and try to find (the teen) as soon as possible," according to a pair of search warrant affidavits served by the Utah Attorney General's Office over the past 10 months 2023 — the same day Malachi moved in — a support coordinator for the teen walked through the group home "and noticed the home did not have alarms or locks installed." The coordinator was told the alarms would be installed the next day and she "reported telling the staff member at the time to not let (the teen) out of their sight until the alarms and locks were installed," according to one affidavit But in the early morning hours of the next day investigators say the teen sneaked out of the group home which "was found crashed and abandoned in Sandy," and then stole a second vehicle Malachi was first discovered missing by a woman who went to clean his room about 11 a.m Another staff member who had arrived at the home about 9 a.m was not aware at that point that he was missing When the group home's operations director was notified the woman was first told to "hold on," and later told in a phone call by another associate "not do anything until she did her investigation," according to the warrant One witness described it "as a 'blur' and that 'everyone was yelling at everyone,'" the affidavit states the woman who made the discovery was told "to call police and tell them (the teen) had run away from the West Jordan Library Subsequent investigation confirmed (the woman) first notified Bluffdale police that (the teen) was missing on Nov (She) told Bluffdale police that (the teen) went missing from the West Jordan Library around 2 p.m.," which was nearly 20 minutes after the boy had already died Autumn Portwood said that staff at Future Rising called her around 2:40 p.m Autumn Portwood said she notified her family members who started scouring through social media and news articles for information that might help them find Malachi "(Then) my brother had sent an article from KSL about a man being involved in an officer-involved shooting that morning And I distinctly remember saying it couldn't have been him because he didn't go missing until 2 p.m that day but in reality he was already dead," Portwood said "And then we found out the next day that Future Rising didn't file a police report until 5 p.m Investigators in April also received screenshots of "text messages exchanged between Future Rising employees and associates on the date of the incident," including one that "instructed the group to 'make sure we have the story straight before we call 911,'" the affidavit alleges The Utah Attorney General's Office also learned during the course of the investigation that one of the staff members who was working the morning the teen disappeared had reported seeing the boy between 4:30 a.m That employee "admitted falling asleep during the night … (and) explained he thought it was OK for him to sleep during the night as long as the client was sleeping," according to the affidavit CRIME 1:41 PM | Updated: 10:47 pm BY DANIEL WOODRUFF BLUFFDALE — A former Bluffdale fire chief and mayoral candidate has pleaded guilty to misusing public money entered the plea Tuesday in Third District Court to one third-degree felony count Five other misdemeanor counts were dismissed Roberts served as Bluffdale’s fire chief until 2020, when several firefighters submitted complaints against him. Prosecutors said Roberts falsified staffing records from March 2018 to March 2020 paying firefighters for work they did not actually perform Former Bluffdale fire chief charged with altering records to give firefighters extra money Those altered records ended up costing Bluffdale taxpayers more than $128,000 in overpayments told KSL his client agreed to a plea in abeyance and must pay $10,000 in restitution to the city of Bluffdale after which the plea and case will be wiped from his record After leaving the Bluffdale Fire Department, Roberts unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2021 losing the race to current Mayor Natalie Hall Roberts did not immediately have a comment Tuesday about his guilty plea Follow @danielmwoodruff UT — Smith’s Food & Drug is constructing a new grocery store at 13893 South Redwood Road in Bluffdale A groundbreaking was held on June 13 with executives from Smith’s and officials from Bluffdale City The 103,000 square foot store will offer complete grocery store offerings and services including sushi and Starbucks Coffee cafe the new store will have a floral department The $30 million Smith’s store will be built by R & O Construction within a Woodbury Development the new store will be the 57th Smith’s in Utah As part of the company’s ongoing effort to moderate energy use the new store will have the latest energy efficient technologies in overhead lighting and cooling to recycle 90% of the project’s total non-hazardous waste such as scrap wood and plastic as part of Smith’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative welcomed addition to our growing community,” said Bluffdale Mayor Natalie Hall This will be Bluffdale’s first grocery store and our residents are eagerly anticipating its opening next year." was tragically and unexpectedly lost on December 18 He was a deeply devoted and caring brother and grandfather to both blood relations and close friends alike LaRoy will be greatly missed due to his sudden passing We were all looking forward to spending precious time together as a family this Christmas.  1952 to Vyrin King Orr and Dora Josephine Lewis Orr LaRoy had a happy childhood and a close relationship with his parents but lost them just after his first son was born card and board games came mainly from his father His kind and giving heart and his love of the gospel he inherited mainly from his mother LaRoy was a determined and hard worker since childhood milking cows and baling hay with his family which was later consolidated and renamed Bear Lake High School he attended Rick's College where he obtained his welding certificate.  LaRoy served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hill Cumorah mission now known as the Rochester New York mission where he made and kept many life-long friendships with the people he served A favorite memory from his mission was participating in the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra He then traveled to Alaska to work as a welder on the pipeline and always spoke fondly of his time and adventures in Alaska.  LaRoy married Kathleen Borklund on May 30 1981 and they had three wonderful sons together They later divorced but always remained close friends.  LaRoy’s entire family meant the world to him he was always so proud of anyone’s accomplishments and would celebrate them any chance he got Josh remembers going to basketball games with his father He also remembers the many hiking trips and service projects he would do with the family Zach will always remember him as being the man everyone could turn to LaRoy would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought One of Garrett’s fondest memories with LaRoy was attending the NBA finals of John Stockton and Carl Malone VS Michael Jordan They often watched and talked about how the Utah Jazz were playing.  He also stayed in contact with several friends and classmates throughout his life and will be greatly missed No one was ever a stranger to LaRoy.  an investment capitalist in the mining industry He was a world traveler from a lot of his business dealings and would tell you all his adventures when he would return.  Anyone who knew LaRoy knew that he deeply loved sports especially the local Utah teams: BYU football and the Utah Jazz basketball team He was a skilled outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing He cared deeply for animals and enjoyed many wonderful horseback rides He was always a great salesman and a social person He had many powerful and memorable experiences with faith in his life and strongly believed in God and in the restored gospel.  LaRoy will always be remembered for his constant and steadfast love and compassion for family We’ll always imagine hearing him say “Jeez oh Friday!” and never letting important details slide We couldn’t have asked for a better friend His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him and who were loved by him.  LaRoy was preceded in death by his parents Vyrin King Orr and Dora Josephine Lewis Orr his brothers Larry Lewis Orr and Kenneth Vyrin Orr as well as his sisters Elene Orr Monroe and Sheryl Orr Cronquist.  brother-in-law Kelly Cronquist of Paradise Zachary Orr and Garrett Orr as well as four grandchildren; Zoee with a viewing before at 9 AM and graveside services in Paris So sorry to hear of my cousin La Roy’s passing We are blessed to know of the Plan of Salvation provided by our Savior whose birth we just celebrated we are so sorry to hear of LaRoys passing Our love and prayers are with you Our deepest and most sincere condolences to you and your family 5:55 PM | Updated: Dec 18 BY CARLYSLE PRICE BLUFFDALE – The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art in collaboration with Smith’s Grocery is looking for a local artist to complete an indoor mural at a new Smith’s grocery location On Monday, the UMOCA announced the selected artist will receive a $10,000 commission for their large-scale artwork at the new Smith’s location opening in Bluffdale UMOCA and Smith’s are searching for an artist who is local to Utah and would be thrilled to find an artist from the Bluffdale community Artists who are selected to submit proposals will receive a $300 stipend then the museum will select one winner to showcase their work in the Smith’s Application information can be found here. 7:41 PM | Updated: Jan 1 BY DARBY SPARKS BLUFFDALE – A man is in custody after police found a woman’s body in the back seat of his car at a Bluffdale 7-Eleven overnight Police have kept the details of the situation very close to the belt But police did say the victim was confirmed to have died by homicide and she had multiple “significant” injuries found on her body Police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jacob Johnson of Herriman The situation also began as a DUI investigation just after midnight with three police departments involved — Saratoga Springs police said “contact was made” with Johnson inside the car at the gas station near Camp Williams the woman was observed in the back of the car Johnson was then removed from the car and arrested A search of Johnson’s court reports shows a history of domestic violence and protective orders as well as a history of driving under the influence The victim in this case has not been named but Johnson told police she had been living with him and they had an argument about their relationship Records show Johnson was in the midst of a divorce with a Saratoga Springs woman who requested a protective order against him in August No victims have been identified and police are not speaking to the media at this time pending further investigation although police said there is no outstanding threat to the public 4:33 PM | Updated: 6:42 pm A Bluffdale man and barbershop owner is recovering after getting stabbed by a teenager outside his home BLUFFDALE — A Bluffdale man and barbershop owner is recovering after getting stabbed by a teenager outside his home Devan Pearson was stabbed just before midnight June 28 on Torrey View Lane two teenage boys had doorbell ditched a house in the area and later returned which led to a verbal confrontation between the teens and residents Pearson overheard the confrontation and came outside to try to break it up when one of the teens pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the back left shoulder was arrested and booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of aggravated assault The detective said there was a history of police involvement with the boy and his family Pearson was taken to the hospital where he spent several days and he is taking it one day at a time,” said LaRane Jensen and his breathing is labored and difficult at times He is very much looking forward to regaining his mobility and returning to normal life although this incident will affect his ability to work for a while.” Pearson owns The Bureau Barber and Shop in downtown Salt Lake City Jensen said support from that community has been “overwhelming with many clients and friends reaching out to offer their love.” A *GoFundMe has been set up for Pearson to help his family pay for his medical bills “I am truly overwhelmed by the love and support from everyone,” Pearson said “It means everything to me and my family.” *KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk 9:42 PM | Updated: 9:44 pm The Rockpoint Apartments where the woman allegedly stabbed a man multiple times during a party BLUFFDALE — A 23-year-old woman was arrested after police said she stabbed a man multiple times at a family party in Bluffdale Izabel Happold was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday morning on suspicion of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury and domestic violence in the presence of a child Carl Hamer said the incident happened at approximately 1:30 a.m Hamer said a family had gathered at an apartment for a birthday and Independence Day celebration when two men got into a “pretty significant fistfight” fueled by alcohol the victim sustained six stab wounds in his back and one stab wound in his neck Seven children were inside the apartment at the time of the stabbing The affidavit stated that Happold initially told police she stabbed the man to protect her husband she “also admitted to stabbing the victim before he had begun hitting her husband.” Both men were treated at the hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries Police said Happold hid the knife in a nearby dumpster Police also said they also found “countless open alcoholic containers throughout the residence,” and Happold was drinking alcohol as she spoke to officers A judge ordered Happold to be held without bail Hamer said after the stabbing victim is out of the hospital he will face charges of aggravated assault in connection with the fight inside the apartment Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application this world was made a better place by the many lives touched by Jay Wallace “Wally” Neilson - a man dedicated to his wife and into the arms of many other dear family members and friends.  Wally had an admirable work ethic from a very young age making money cleaning furnaces with his father and working a summer job cleaning the shop at Gunther Sheet Metal Orville Gunther became one of his dearest friends and inspirational mentors Wally graduated from Jordan High School in 1947 He received both a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and a Master of Education degree in Instructional Media in 1970 from Brigham Young University where he became a loyal Cougar fan for life Wally continued his thirst for knowledge at the University of Utah and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1975 in Educational Administration His natural talent and passion for teaching spanned 22 years in many capacities as a beloved teacher media coordinator and employee of Jordan School District Wally would supplement his income by working several part-time jobs to provide for his growing family.  Wally loved his country which he honorably served for 34 years as a pilot in the United States Air Force and later he proudly piloted the B-47 Stratojet nuclear bomber during the Cold War with Russia He loved flying by celestial navigation in the quiet black of the night with only the stars and his Maker Wally would not make a career in the Air Force as he and Joan desired a more stable life for raising a family - always their priority Wally was promoted to the rank of Captain - an unprecedented military advancement for someone in the Reserves He later joined the Air Guard in the 191st Military Airlift Squadron being promoted to the rank of Major where he traveled the world piloting the C-97 always bringing home cherished souvenirs and stories to his family.  Not only did Wally have unwavering faith in the Savior and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he exemplified Christ’s teachings in everything he did He valiantly served as a missionary in the Central States Mission which he said as a shy teenager Bishopric First Counselor and Executive Secretary Wally and Joan fulfilled a dream they shared even before they got married to serve as a senior missionary couple They were called to the Maryland Baltimore Mission where they served a Military Mission at the Aberdeen Proving Ground They also served as Guest Services missionaries at the LDS Conference Center and as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  and community service also played a major role in his life With baseball at the top of the list playing pitcher or first baseman Louis Cardinals saw him playing a pick-up game on P-Day while on his mission and asked if he would entertain the idea of trying out for the team Wally declined and once he got home his focus was on his education started Bluffdale Town Days - a rich community tradition that carries on to this day he was elected as president of the Bluffdale Lions Club he was chosen to be part of the Exploratory Committee for the incorporation of Bluffdale as a city independent from Salt Lake County the same year Wally was elected to the Bluffdale City Council for a four-year term Wally and Joan were honored for their lifetime of community service in 2017 as Grand Marshals in the Bluffdale Wild West parade.  Wally’s No.1 priority was his wife and family He married his eternal sweetheart on August 20 they raised their family of nine children rooted in faith and in annual traditions including Fish Lake and Granite Flat camping and chopping down Christmas trees in Eureka One of Wally’s most cherished points of pride was listening to his children play the piano or sing He is deeply adored by 31 grandchildren and almost 30 great grandchildren He is also survived by his sister Bonnie Durrance and brother as well as his parents and grandparents who are joyfully celebrating his return home.  Friends and family are invited to a viewing on Friday with a viewing prior to the services from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m All services will be held at the Bluffdale LDS church located at 14400 South Redwood Road Interment will be at the Bluffdale City Cemetery with full military honors The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the many attentive caregivers at Rocky Mountain Care and Ovation Hospice for their compassionate care of Wally over the past several months We also express our gratitude to the members of the Bluffdale 2nd Ward for their loving service to our family The service will be livestreamed on the Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Goff-Mortuary-116988261695382/ (The livestream video will appear when the service starts.) Jay Wallace Neilson - Funeral Recording.mp3 Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors BLUFFDALE — A 10-year-old girl was transported by medical helicopter in critical condition Sunday after two cars collided at an intersection The accident happened at the intersection of Porter Rockwell Boulevard and Redwood Road according to Anne Elise Harrison with the Saratoga Springs Police Department A car was going north on Redwood Road and passing through an intersection with a green light when a different car going east on Porter Rockwell Boulevard ran a red light and hit the first vehicle There were no other life-threatening injuries besides the 10-year-old girl who was sitting in the backseat when her car got hit She was taken to Primary Children's Hospital for treatment Spencer Cox often wonders if his generation is going to be the first in the state's history to make life worse for incoming generations or if they're going to make life better in the Beehive State The site of the old state prison in Draper — which is now in the process of transforming into the Point — is a sign that Utah is setting the stage for future generations to prosper "This is one of those projects that says that we are not going to be the most selfish generation in history," Cox said "That we actually are going to give back and make this place better than we found it I believe that the Point represents the very best of the Utah dream and making that dream available for the next generation." The Point aims to be a living-working community featuring high walkability — with everything a 15-minute walk from its heart a river-to-mountain range trail accessible from the community office and residential spaces all within approximately 600 acres On Tuesday, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony for the extension of Porter Rockwell Boulevard, kicking off the first phase of redevelopment for the massive project Phase 1 will include the development of approximately 100 acres and includes high-end office space a people-focused main street called the Promenade and a place for the innovation district dubbed Innovation Alley Plans also include a large gathering area called the Central Green, an extensive regional trail called the River-to-Range and a new FrontRunner station at the Point connecting it to the existing regional transit system will connect the site to the rest of the region "Porter Rockwell Boulevard is a good example of why the Point is so important to the future of Utah's prosperity and our quality of life," said Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz "The Point is unique in that it's owned by all of you and all of you have a say in what it will look and it will pay dividends for generations to come." People attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Point in Bluffdale on Tuesday The Point was previously the site of the Utah State Prison and Point of the Mountain State Land Authority board co-chairman said Porter Rockwell Boulevard would serve as the site's "main road" to connect the Point to the rest of the region as well as the rest of the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley "It will provide not only that north and south mobility but also provide convenient access to this site's future amenities," Teuscher said "The road itself will not just be built for cars The road is intentionally designed for both vehicular and pedestrian use offering an important thoroughfare for commuters while creating convenient paths for pedestrians the state had to build out "critical backbone infrastructure" to support Phase 1 that included installing major utilities such as water the Utah Legislature has appropriated $165 million in the form of a loan that will be paid back with interest through revenues from future ground lease payments at the Point "I want to emphasize that the $165 million is a loan that will be paid back to the taxpayer "This investment and our development partners are bringing billions of dollars to the table to finance the development and that's just in the first phase alone I can't think of any other state infrastructure project that has resulted and will result in such a quick (return on investment) for the state of Utah." Spencer Cox controls an excavator during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Point in Bluffdale on Tuesday Deseret News)Leaders also expressed excitement for the Point to act as an "innovation district" in the state "Utah is already the innovation capital of the United States The innovation that we have here to connect what we have going on in our job centers in Salt Lake City is unique and that will be the innovation district that we have here," Teuscher said "There is nothing like it in the country I cannot overstate the importance of the work at the innovation district." leaders — like Cox — see The Point as a pivotal development to solidifying Utah's future It creates billions of dollars in state GDP It'll offer world-class shopping which will be fun for a lot of people too," Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said I think it's bright because of what we're doing in Utah and this is one of the projects that makes it bright." Charges have been filed against the man accused of murdering a woman he was in an intimate relationship with officers with the Bluffdale Police Department found a man unconscious in a white jeep at a 7-11 gas station on Redwood Road An assisting officer noticed a woman in a cardboard box in Johnson's trunk the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office said they saw an extension cord around her neck The SLCDA's office said she was unresponsive and cold to the touch with multiple bruises and lacerations to her head they reportedly found a hammer with blood on it Detectives determined the crime happened at Johnson's home in Herriman and executed a search warrant they found blood and "apparent signs that someone had attempted to clean up a crime scene," the SLCDA's office said Officers also found a bat on the kitchen floor with smudge marks "as if it had recently been washed." Officers spoke to several of the victim's friends who reportedly said she had told them about previous verbal and physical abuse Johnson was charged Friday with one count of first-degree felony aggravated murder one count of second-degree felony obstruction of justice one count of third-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restriction person and one count of third-degree felony desecration of a human body "Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the victim in this alleged murder," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said "If you are experiencing domestic violence or are aware of someone who may be experiencing it Early intervention can help prevent an escalation of violence." 6:32 PM | Updated: 6:38 pm BY KSL TV VIDEO The woman allegedly killed by an ex-boyfriend was identified by her family members as Summer Tatiana Roney police discovered the woman’s body in the backseat of a car at a gas station in Bluffdale was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder