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TAYLORSVILLE — Two women with gunshot wounds were found Thursday morning in Taylorsville in an apparent murder-suicide, according to the Unified Police Department.
Police were called to a shooting around 6:30 a.m. at 2504 W. Dutch Draw in Taylorsville, according to Lt. Brian Lohrke of the Unified Police Department. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a tan Chevy Equinox that had crashed into a blue Hyundai Elantra.
The driver of the Elantra, who has been identified as 47-year-old Richelle Horsley, had been shot and was dead by the time officers arrived. Lohrke did not know whether Horsley was killed in the crash or as a result of being shot.
Another woman, Fransiska Dastrup, 49, was found approximately 100 yards away from the crash with an apparent self-inflicted fatal gunshot wound, Lohrke said. Police said Dastrup is an "alleged suspect." Lohrke said it wasn't immediately clear whether Dastrup had been driving the Equinox but that a handgun was found next to her.
Lohrke said the two women were in a relationship and that officers had responded to multiple domestic disturbances in the past. He added that the couple had recently broken up and that Dastrup was in the process of moving out.
Horsley had been physically hurt by Dastrup multiple times prior to Thursday's shooting and was doing everything she could to stop the violence, Lohrke said. The violent nature of the relationship was at least part of the reason why police were called to the residence previously.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org.
Horsley was in the process of obtaining a protective order against Dastrup, but Lohrke said the protective order was not valid yet because it was in the process of being served. Court records show that a protective order was filed in Salt Lake City by Horsley on June 15.
A separate stalking injunction was filed against Dastrup on June 19, but not by Horsley. It's unclear if the stalking injunction was in relation to Dastrup's relationship with Horsley or a separate incident.
"I don’t know if that would have stopped this situation," he said. "There is a lot of high emotions and a piece of paper is going to create some prevention but not all the prevention."
Lohrke added that protective orders do serve a vital need in domestic violence situations, but that "in a situation like this, where someone is willing to take a violent action, that’s where it changes things."
He added that individuals involved in a "toxic" or violent relationship "need to seek the help you can to get out to stop that violence."
"If you need to go to counseling, if you need a complete separation, you need to do so," he urged.
Officers will continue to investigate the incident that led to the shooting. More information will be posted when it's available.
Crisis Hotlines
- Utah County Crisis Line: 801-691-5433
- Salt Lake County/UNI Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- Utah Chapter-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsputah.com
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Warning signs of suicide
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
What to do if you see warning signs of suicide
- Do not leave the person alone
- Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
- Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional