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Sam Penrod reporting One of the men prosecuted in federal court for perjury related to the disappearance of missing teenager Kiplyn Davis returned to court today.
David Rucker Leifson faces time in federal prison, but he will have to wait a few more days to learn what his sentence is. That's because prosecutors did not have the lead FBI investigator in court to testify about the connection between the perjury charge and the alleged murder of Kiplyn Davis, leaving her parents disappointed.
Richard Davis, Kiplyn's father, said, "It seems like this is all I do, is either come here or go to Provo, come to court and have it delayed and moved back, and I didn't realize that justice was so slow. But I guess it is. But again, like I've said before, we'll play the game, we'll play the game because I think eventually it will bring Kiplyn home."
David Rucker Leifson has pleaded guilty to perjury, but the specific charges are not related to her murder.
Leifson's defense believes his sentence cannot be tied to murder, while prosecutors do. In the end, the judge will decide, and it could mean a difference between 15 months in prison or up to five years.
Davis said, "I feel like he had something to do with Kiplyn's disappearance, and I feel like anybody who will not tell me where Kiplyn is deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life. But I'll be satisfied with five years if that is what it is going to be, but I'd sure like it to be more."
Leifson is one of three men who has been under a shadow of suspicion in the disappearance of Kiplyn Davis back in 1995.
Two other men, Timmy Olsen and Chris Jeppson have been charged with her murder and are awaiting trial.
Olsen and Jeppson were also convicted in federal court of perjury.
Olsen is serving 12 years, and Jeppson has not been sentenced yet.
Leifson will return to court Tuesday afternoon to be sentenced for perjury.
The Utah County attorney says during the last several weeks official have conducted a search in Spanish Fork Canyon near the "train tunnel" and Spanish Fork River Park. The search has been for the remains of Kiplyn Davis. Investigators initially received information that she may have been buried there. New information has caused investigators to question the validity of the original report. As a result, the search efforts have ended.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
