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WEST JORDAN — The night of June 26th 2012, a 6-year-old girl from West Jordan was kidnapped from her own bed and her body was found in a nearby canal. The horrific story haunted the dreams of people across the country. Today our hearts are still captured by Sierra Newbold.
Brad and Kathy Newbold both spoke about Sierra at a memorial ceremony held in her honor in October.
"No matter how small, people are people and she was a person," said Brad Newbold, Sierra's father.
Sierra's mother Kathy remembers her daughter fondly.
"I could see Sierra sitting on the bench with a big smile, just very happy," Kathy said.
I could see Sierra sitting on the bench with a big smile, just very happy.
–Kathy Newbold, Sierra's mother
The morning of June 27th, Kathy called 911 saying their sliding door was open and her daughter was not in her bed. An entire community began the search for Sierra.
"It's a crime you just can't imagine-- someone coming into their home, taking your daughter out right under your nose and killing her," said neighbor Lee-Ann Luke. "You just can't imagine it."
Sierra's body was found in a nearby canal. It took three days for police to find and arrest 41-year-old Terry Black, who was a neighbor and member of the Newbold's LDS ward.
It's a crime you just can't imagine-- someone coming into their home, taking your daughter out right under your nose and killing her. You just can't imagine it.
–neighbor Lee-Ann Luke
"I'm not going to say that it's not divine intervention. I myself believe it as divine intervention," said Doug Diamond, West Jordan Police Chief.
Police arrested Black on an unrelated robbery. Once in custody, they started putting pieces together. They learned he lived in an apartment complex near the canal where Sierra's body was found and he had charcoal on his pants also found on Sierra's pajamas. A forensics test concluded Black was their suspect.
"My heart, my mouth, everything just dropped when I looked and saw that it was Terry," said Eldon Thomas, neighbor or Black.
Black has been charged with first degree aggravated murder, child kidnapping, and rape of a child.
A status review hearing is scheduled for March 4th and the preliminary hearing is set for July 29th. If the judge finds probable cause, the case will then head to the district court where they will determine a trial date.
