Murder of Kiplyn Davis
Kiplyn Davis | |
|---|---|
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| Born | July 1, 1979 |
| Died | May 2, 1995 (aged 15) Spanish Fork, Utah, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Spanish Fork High School |
Kiplyn Davis (born July 1, 1979) was a 15-year-old high school student who was reported missing and allegedly murdered on May 2, 1995. She is a featured child on the Polly Klaas Foundation.
Disappearance
Davis, a sophomore, was last seen at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. That morning she had had a fight with both of her parents then attended her early driver's education class, her morning classes and was seen at lunchtime in the school's cafeteria with her friends and classmates. She did not show up for her fourth and fifth period classes. However, one close friend said he spoke with her between fourth and fifth period but later changed his story. All of her personal belongings, including her purse, makeup, dental retainer and schoolbooks, were left in her locker at school and she never returned home for the day. It has been testified that she told friends that she would not be attending activities planned that evening, and in fact, had mentioned it would be better if she ran away. She was reported missing when she failed to arrive home at 17:00 when she was always home by 15:30.
After months passed without Davis' return or any clues as to her whereabouts, police began to suspect foul play in her disappearance. Though she had a fight with her parents the day of her disappearance and mentioned running away, her family believes she was murdered. After her disappearance there were rumors that her body was buried in a local canyon, a train tunnel, under a building, and various other locations but her remains were never found. Four years after her disappearance, her family held a memorial service for Davis and put up a marker in her name at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
Investigation
| External image | |
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 Age progression of Davis to age 30 |
In 2003, U.S. Attorney Paul Warner revived the probe into Davis's death. Timmy Brent Olsen and Christopher Neal Jeppson had been charged with her murder.[1]
On May 6, 2009 the Utah State prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Christopher Neal Jeppson. In court he signed an affidavit that he does not know the circumstances or cause of Kiplyn Davis's disappearance. He can no longer be sought on any charges related to the Kiplyn Davis investigation.[2]
Rucker Leifson pleaded guilty to one count of lying to a grand jury and is currently serving a four-year sentence. Gary Blackmore and Scott Brunson have also been found guilty of lying to a grand jury, their sentences hinge upon their testimony against Olsen.
On June 1, 2009, news of a decision by the judge on a motion to dismiss the murder charge against Olsen was announced. The judge decided to defer any ruling on the motion in the case, stating he had not heard all the evidence from the prosecutors. An evidentiary hearing to establish whether there is evidence of death is still possible.[3]
On February 11, 2011, Timmy Brent Olson pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He claimed he saw another individual hit Davis in the head with a rock and helped him move her body, but declined to name the other individual.[4]
References
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune - Renewed search for Kiplyn Davis could go on for weeks". Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ Sara Israelsen-Hartley (May 7, 2009). "Jeppson pleads no contest to lesser charge in Kiplyn case". Deseret News. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Sara Israelsen-Hartley (June 2, 2009). "Judge issues a no-ruling on the no-body issue in Kiplyn case". Deseret News. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Olsen takes plea deal in Kiplyn Davis case