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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Salt Lake City newspaper reports that authorities have a warrant to search cell phones for evidence that a man allegedly ordered the killing of a woman who he believed planned to be a police informant.
The Deseret News reports that police and prosecutors believe cell phone photographs, text messages and contact lists might contain more information related to the December shooting death of Ashley Sparks. The paper says officials were recently granted a search warrant to review the phones being held as evidence.
Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Joshua Binkerd with aggravated murder in Sparks' death. According to an affidavit, Binkerd allegedly asked Christopher Alvey to "take care of" Sparks because he was worried she would tell police his gang was dealing drugs and making fake checks.
The affidavit says that on the day of the slaying, Binkerd allegedly called Alvey's cell phone and told him "to make sure that Ms. Sparks did not come back" and that Alvey understood this to mean that it was "his obligation to kill her."
Jordanelle State Park officials found the 21-year-old Sparks shot four times and near death on Dec. 26. She died soon after.
Alvey, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the case in April. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Binkerd's attorney, J. Edward Jones, declined a request for comment from The Associated Press late Wednesday.
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Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
