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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman preparing to move from Utah to West Virginia for a new job had all of her belongings stolen and burned, according to friends.
"They lit it on fire and everything is destroyed. Her whole life in the back of the truck, destroyed," said friend and co-worker Josh Wall.
Beth Fisher, who worked as a pilot for AirMed at University Hospital and is a former member of the military, had packed all of her belongings in the back of a Budget moving van with a trailer towing her Subaru Legacy Outback behind it.
Between 9:40 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday, someone stole the moving van while it was in the parking lot of Springhill Suites, 12111 S. State, said Draper Police Sgt. Chad Carpenter.
About 7 a.m. Wednesday, the moving truck was found in an industrial area near 656 S. Fulton St. (3000 West) when a local business owner spotted it on fire.
Responding Salt Lake fire crews were initially concerned that the truck had a mobile meth lab in the back, said Salt Lake fire spokesman Jasen Asay. When the fire was extinguished, investigators found most of Fisher's possessions that were still in the back had been destroyed.
"All of her personal belongings, everything that has meaning to her has been taken. It's just sad to think that somebody who has helped saved countless lives with us over the years could have something so tragic happen to her," Wall said. "It's absolutely devastating."
Asay said friends of Fisher helped sort all the contents of the moving truck. Some items were believed to be salvageable, but most weren't, he said. The fire was believed to have started in the back. It was unknown Wednesday whether any accelerants were used.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Fisher's black 2005 Subaru, with Utah plate 388UJR, and the trailer it was on were still missing, Carpenter said.
Anyone with information can call Draper police at 801-840-4000. A gofundme site was established to help Fisher get back on her feet.
Contributing: Sandra Yi
