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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police are investigating the death of a University of Utah doctor as a murder-suicide.
Travis Geddes, 30, and Sarah Hawley, 27, were found dead Sunday inside a Sugar House home, 1825 E. Ramona Ave. (1925 South). Investigators believe Geddes killed Hawley and then killed himself, said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Brandon Shearer.
Shearer said the couple had lived together for a while.
Other details, such as causes of death, were not released Monday.
Hawley, who recently graduated from the University of California, San Francisco Medical School, had recently begun a residency at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
"Today, University of Utah mourns the tragic loss of one of our bright young family medicine residents, Sarah Hawley, MD. Dr. Hawley was a first-year resident who was focusing on continuing her studies in family and preventive medicine," the U. said in a prepared statement Monday.
“Her adventurous spirit and love of learning will be missed by all those who knew her," said Dr. Kolawole Okuyemi, chairman of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine.
The dean of the U. School of Medicine, Michael Good, called her "a promising young physician" and said her death was a "senseless act of violence."
Police were called just after 8 p.m. Sunday by a neighbor. The woman heard a "disturbance" and possibly a woman screaming, Shearer said. She thought the house was possibly being burglarized and called 911.
When officers arrived, they found the couple dead inside the home. Family members, who live out of state, were notified. Shearer said Geddes and Hawley are not believed to be originally from Utah.
Police had no record of domestic violence with the couple, he said.
According to her online University of Utah biography, which lists her hometown as San Francisco, Hawley enjoyed cooking, swimming and "absolutely anything outdoors, such as camping, backpacking, white water rafting, and most notably bird and tree identification."
On her Facebook page, Hawley posted many pictures of hikes and other outdoor adventures she had been on.
"Sarah made it a priority to stay in touch with her family, constantly talking about them and always mentioning her love of family," said Dr. Brian Vukelic, Hawley's residency adviser, in a statement.
"At the same time, she was excited about the opportunities Utah offered to her, particularly the ability to spend time doing all the outdoor activities she loved so much. Sarah was friendly, fantastic and hardworking. She always gave everything her all."
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
#DV_resources
