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SALT LAKE CITY -- A friend is coming forward to describe a different side of Stephanie Sloop, the Layton woman arrested in connection with the abuse and death of her 4-year-old son.
Amber Navarre Llewellyn tells the Salt Lake Tribune she met Stephanie Sloop in 2005 when Sloop and Joe Stacy were stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. She says she became close friends with Stephanie. They lost contact with each other when the Stacys moved to Florida about a year and a half ago. The two women later reconnected online.
Llewellyn says when they lived in Georgia, Ethan Stacy was Stephanie's "pride and joy." She says she never saw Stephanie spank the boy or raise her voice with him.
Llewellyn also tells the paper she now is angry, hurt and heartbroken over the news of Ethan's murder. She says in the past Stephanie could be vindictive and was a "compulsive liar."
Meanwhile, the outpouring of support continues following Ethan's death. This weekend, many people turned out to another vigil for the boy. The Justice for Ethan Stacy Facebook page now has more than 44,000 members.
Stephanie Sloop, 27, and her new husband, Nathan Sloop, 31, were arrested last week after the boy's body was found buried in Ogden Canyon.
They appeared in court Friday, but the Davis County District Attorney's Office said it's not yet ready to formally file charges because the medical examiner needs more time to determine Ethan's cause of death. Both suspects may face aggravated murder charges. Their next court hearing is scheduled for May 28.
