Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
KSL Team CoveragePolice remain tight-lipped about the Destiny Norton case, having released only minimal information. However, we continue to learn more about their murder suspect, Craig Gregerson.
According to a Deseret News report, Craig Gregerson is in a maximum security cell at the Salt Lake County jail, for his own safety. He's charged with criminal homicide and child kidnapping.
The county attorney is expected to meet with police later today. However, prosecutors said Wednesday they will not release an autopsy report that details how Destiny died.
Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Robert Stott said prosecutors would review evidence from police Wednesday afternoon and then decide which charges to formally file.
Police are not saying much about their suspect. In fact, they are refusing to even clear up conflicting reports about whether Gregerson allowed his apartment to be searched or if he refused to give consent for a police search.
Police are saying only that Gregerson is being cooperative now.
However, a U Search volunteer said police and federal agents scoured Gregerson's apartment three times after Destiny disappeared. All three times, however, he refused them access to his cellar and demanded they obtain a search warrant, she said.
And, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said police did search the home, but that Destiny's body was hidden. And, he says, those facts will come out later on.
People who led the search effort have told Eyewitness News that Gregerson participated in the search efforts for Destiny, handing out fliers right alongside the other volunteers.
Witnesses claim they saw him at candlelight vigils days after the girl died.
An autopsy was performed and completed Tuesday on Destiny. The results have not been released.
Her parents have still not commented, instead spending Tuesday celebrating the birthday of their one-year old daughter, Trinity.
Community members continue to gather at the home of Destiny Norton, adding messages, pictures and stuffed animals to a makeshift memorial in the Norton's yard.
Courtney Rios searched for Destiny and has now returned to visit the Destiny memorial. Courtney brought a teddy bear and some flowers. Rios says it hits close to home, she has three girls.
Craig Gregerson's Violent Past
Court documents we've obtained paint Gregerson as manipulative and violent.
Two years ago he was charged with domestic assault. Those charges were dropped.
But this past February, documents say Gregerson filed a protective order against his wife and later admitted he made it up to get custody of their child and home.
Since then, the court documents indicate that he's had a violent marriage with his wife, Catherine. According to those papers, Gregerson says he didn't care if he killed her. It would be better to be in jail than living with her.
Those documents further stated that Catherine Gregerson put up with the abuse because she loved Craig and felt a need for his love.
While questions continue to swirl around Craig Gregerson, Gregerson's wife has stepped foward defending her husband.
Cadie Gregerson: "I think somebody is setting him up. Unless I hear it from my husband's mouth, that's what I think happened."
Catherine Gregerson told KSL Radio she'll stand behind her husband unless he confesses, then he's "on his own."
While the 22-year-old woman supports Gregerson now, she has made statements in court that he abused her in the past.
Cadie Gregerson: "He broke my nose. I think it was before my first pregnancy."
Court documents reveal Gregerson punched Catherine, kicked her in the head and strangled her. Yet Catherine insists her husband had nothing to do with Destiny's murder.
Cadie Gregerson: "Yes it was his home. But I honestly can't see my husband as a murderer, let alone even hurting a child. I can't see that."
On the contrary, court records show Gregerson once threw their baby across a bed.
Catherine says they are separated but she's been to his home several times since Destiny disappeared and didn't notice anything unusual. She also says the night Destiny disappeared, Craig spent the night at her place two blocks away.
Police Maintain Silence on Case
While Craig Gregerson's wife is speaking out, Salt Lake City police are not. That decision has been criticized by many of the Norton family friends.
As police prepare to turn their case over to the D.A., a former prosecutor is commending their silence, saying their decision will ensure a fair trial and a jury pool that is not tainted with a barrage of opinion.
Greg Skordas, Former S.L Prosecutor: "We don't do things here as they do in other states and our police are sensitive to the rights of the accused to have a fair trial. They don't disseminate a lot of information until charges are filed."
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson says in due time the public will know more, and hopefully not be so hard on the police.
Mayor Rocky Anderson: "I can't tell you what was said or by whom or where her body was found or how it was concealed, but it's going to be clear as to why police, during the initial searh, weren't able to find her body."
Critics have questioned whether Destiny could have been saved had police found Craig Gregerson sooner. But court documents suggest Destiny was dead shortly after she first disappeared.
A probable cause statement shows: On July 16th, Craig Gregerson saw Destiny outside his home. He lured her inside. Destiny began to scream. Gregerson put his hand over the girl's mouth and began to squeeze.
The girl went limp and Gregerson laid her body on the floor.
(The Associated Press Contributed to this Story)
