Police still searching for killer in Idaho triple homicide


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HOLBROOK, Idaho — The Oneida County Sheriff's Office on Monday announced that officers had completed processing the crime scene where three people were found dead in a house near the Utah-Idaho border.

The bodies of Brent L. Christensen, 61, Trent Jon Christensen, 32, and Yavette Chivon Carter, 27, were discovered Friday on a remote property outside of Malad, Idaho.

Authorities found 64 pit bulls — some of them believed to have been trained for fighting — also on the property, along with nearly 40 marijuana plants. A dog fighting ring and treadmills to train the dogs were also discovered.

"We suspect it may be connected to the dogs or be connected to the drugs or may not," Sheriff Jeff Semrad said. "We just don't know right now."

On Monday, the dogs were removed from the property by the Idaho Humane Society, according to the sheriff's office, to be placed into shelters and receive a checkup by a veterinarian. Volunteers said many of the dogs had injuries that left deep scars, but other wounds were fresh.

"These dogs, all they wanted was a little bit of warm, human touch," said volunteer, Dave Doerr. "They haven't been approached with a loving hand for so long. I've never seen anything like it. I hope I never have to again."

Authorities said that Christensen, the homeowner, had been known to sell the pit bulls and also board them for other owners. However, dog fighting is a felony in Idaho and Utah, and police officers said that's why people who left their dogs at the home are hesitant to claim them.

Two young girls, ages 2 and 2 months, were also found in the house. The girls were the daughters of Trent Christensen and Carter. They were uninjured — the 2-month-old found in the clenched arms of her dead mother — and placed in custody of Carter's grandmother.

Sheriff's investigators had not released a possible motive as of Monday but did not believe the killings were random.

Contributing: Sandra Yi

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