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OGDEN -- A benefit was held Tuesday for the family of Alexis Rasmussen, whose body was found in a rural part of Morgan County Oct. 18.
People from the community showed up to celebrate Alexis' life and memory; yet her death continues to haunt the community, and the release of search warrants is making that pain worse.
Dozens of balloons rose to the sky Tuesday night. In a way it was a connection between the crowd and Alexis. The fundraiser doubled as a community memorial.
Alexis' friend Bryanna Jacobson said, "It's been really hard, and it's helping to be with the community and let everyone feel the pain and get through it together, because we all need each other."
Her disappearance and murder is a wound that will take a long time to heal, especially since more details continue to keep re-opening that wound.
Search warrants obtained by police show that the people suspected in her death paid Alexis, their babysitter, with drugs. They also implicate Eric Millerberg. The warrants briefly unsealed in the Alexis Rasmussen case Tuesday allege that Eric Millerberg's friends said he asked them to "bring a car and don't ask any questions" the night the teenager went missing.
Eric and Dea Millerberg have been named as persons of interest in the death of 16-year-old Alexis. She was last seen Sept. 10, when she was baby-sitting the Millerbergs' two young daughters.
Search warrants obtained Tuesday by the Standard- Examiner indicate that two friends of Eric Millerberg told investigators he called them the night Rasmussen went missing and asked about a car and help to get rid of something.
One of them later told police: "I can't believe he killed a little girl," the Standard-Examiner said, quoting the search warrant. The warrants were apparently served Oct. 9.
The warrants also said Alexis was "partying with the Millerbergs" and had been paid for her babysitting services with drugs, the newspaper reported on its website. Dea Millerberg, accompanied by Alexis, also allegedly sold some prescription drugs to one of Alexis' friends for $100 and "a small amount of marijuana" on the night she was baby-sitting.
Security surveillance videos showed Alexis and Dea Millerberg around 10:20 p.m. on Sept. 10 at a Layton-area Walgreen's store, where they reportedly went to pick up a prescription.
One search warrant affidavit stated that human blood was found in the Millerbergs' home in an area where the carpet and padding had been removed, ABC-4 reported on its website. Investigators also found a car sold by Eric Millerberg to someone in Utah County. The carpet had apparently been removed from the trunk of the car.
One search warrant affidavit stated that human blood was found in the Millerbergs' home in an area where the carpet and padding had been removed.
Court officials said the Weber County Attorney's Office filed a motion to seal the search warrants Tuesday, shortly after they were released to at least one media outlet. Second District Court Judge Michael Lyon signed the motion, preventing further release of the documents.
The same witness who said Eric Millerberg asked him to "bring a car and don't ask any questions" also told police that a 16-year-old girl had requested that Eric Millerberg "shoot her up" with drugs and that she wanted to have a "threesome" with the couple, the TV station reported.
Neighbors of the Millerbergs have previously said they believe the couple may have paid some babysitters with drugs.
Both Eric and Dea Millerberg were arrested and charged with drug-related violations around the time Alexis was reported missing. Dea Milerberg is facing two felony counts of falsely obtaining a prescription. Eric Millerberg violated parole by using drugs and was sentenced to zero to five years in prison Oct. 25.
Attorneys have reported that they anticipate both Millerbergs will be charged in the coming weeks in connection with Alexis' death. Prosecutors say they are waiting for a full autopsy to be completed.
Alexis, who was described by family and friends as someone who was smart, beautiful and capable of making "a big difference," was buried Oct. 29.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
