Estimated read time: 1-2 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Sandra Yi ReportingThe family of a teenager murdered two decades ago may finally get justice. DNA evidence recently led police to a suspect in the murder of Tiffany Hambleton, and that man was in court today.
Tiffany Hambleton was only 14-years-old when she disappeared back in 1986. Her body was found in a ditch near 1100 South and 3400 West. She had been stabbed multiple times.
For years there were no arrests in the case, but thanks to DNA evidence police recently linked Dan Petersen to the crime. Last month police arrested Petersen in Arizona, and brought him back to Utah to face murder charges.
This morning Petersen appeared in court, and Hambleton's family was there.
Mary Delaney, Victim's Aunt: "It's great. Maybe we'll get some closure finally. It's been years. Our family needs closure."
Tara Angelos, Victim's Sister: "You feel like it's closure, but it stirs a lot of old wounds of why he would take an innocent child's life. She was 14, just a kid."
On the day Hambleton disappeared she told her mother she was going to a concert. Family members say back then police did question Petersen, but he had an alibi and was never arrested.
They say seeing Petersen in court today was overwhelming. Petersen was in court for a scheduling conference and will have another hearing next week.
