Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OREM — After fleeing the state, a man has turned himself in after the brutal murder Friday of his girlfriend.
The woman, identified as Jennifer Brackenbury, 44, was discovered Friday with multiple stab wounds at the couple's shared residence at155 S. 1200 West in Orem.
The suspect, Steven Gray, 43, had fled to his home state — Washington — where he turned himself in to Yakima police at 11:17 a.m. Friday. Yakima police notified Orem police of what Gray said, at which point Orem police discovered Brackenbury's body.
Police are unaware of how Gray got to Washington, but friends say Brackenbury's car was not present at the residence. Neighbors told police they had not seen Brackenbury for a week.
"It most likely would have occurred between Saturday and Tuesday," said Sgt. Craig Martinez with the Orem Police Department. "(We) don't know the actual time of death, yet."
Neighbors said the couple had been dating for less than a year, and were friendly, but private.
"They kind of kept to themselves," said Darrell Petersen, a neighbor. "They used to come out and sit on the porch all the time and wave to people as they walked by."
I don't understand it, and it's just shocking to me that he left her like that.
–Ashley Peterson
Police said they have been to the home before, when someone claimed Gray had raped her, but the allegations turned out to be unfounded.
A woman who said she grew up with Brackenbury but requested to remain anonymous said Brackenbury was one of the "smartest people I've ever known. Kind, giving."
"I don't even know ... unbelievable," she said. "I don't think I can process it right now."
A neighbor, Ashley Peterson, said she saw the couple Tuesday afternoon. Later that night, she and her husband heard something they now believe was coming from the couple's home.
"It sounded almost as if arguing, loud talking," she said. "It was quite loud and it was late at night. It was 12:30. I don't understand it, and it's just shocking to me that he left her like that."
Ten days ago, Brackenbury told a friend she had interviews for pharmacy technician jobs. That friend said she seemed happy.
She also told that same friend that she was happy with boyfriend — the man accused of killing her.
---
