[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The decision is in for Jerrod Baum (pictured above).
After three days of deliberations, a jury discovered the Utah man responsible of kidnapping and murdering two teenagers whose our bodies had been present in a mine shaft in 2018. The 45-year-old was convicted of two counts of aggravated homicide, aggravated kidnapping, desecration of a physique, and one depend of obstruction of justice.
Over 4 years in the past, Brelynne “Breezy” Otteson, 17, and Riley Powell, 18, vanished whereas touring from Toole, Utah, to Eureka. After their Jeep was discovered deserted, police suspected foul play.
A search group situated the our bodies inside an deserted mine shaft close to Eureka on March 28, 2018. Hours later, Baum was arrested and charged.
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A charging doc said the suspect kidnapped the teenager couple after they visited his residence, which he shared together with his girlfriend, Morgan Henderson. Henderson instructed investigators Baum prohibited her from having “man associates.”
Henderson stated she thought the youngsters had left the home, however Baum took her outdoors and confirmed her that Otteson and Powell had been truly behind Baum’s Jeep. The victims’ arms and ft had been sure and their mouths coated with duct tape, in response to allegations within the charging doc.
Baum allegedly made Henderson get into the Jeep with him and he drove to the Tintic Normal Mine; the tape on the youngsters’ ft was reportedly lower so they might stroll as much as the mine. Henderson instructed investigators, in response to the courtroom docs:
“Brelynne was pressured to kneel close to the open mine pit and witness the beating of her boyfriend, Riley Powell, and his stabbing, earlier than she had her throat lower and was additionally thrown into the open mine.”
Completely heinous.
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Baum had initially confronted a potential loss of life sentence, however Utah County Lawyer David Leavitt determined in opposition to it. For the aggravated homicide fees, he faces a possible most sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole.
Invoice Powell, Riley’s dad, stated the household is hoping for 2 sentences of life with out parole, telling Desert Information he felt “blissful” when the responsible verdicts had been introduced.
In the meantime, Otteson’s aunt Amanda Davis instructed KUTV:
“It’s lengthy overdue, however we did it, we did it, the state did it. We’re right here and we bought justice for the youngsters.”
Baum’s sentencing is scheduled for June 1.
[Image via Utah County Sheriff’s Office]
