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TAYLORSVILLE — A woman was arrested Friday morning for allegedly stabbing her 84-year-old mother to death in their Taylorsville home, police said.
The victim's daughter, 59-year-old Lori Lee Donlay, was later booked into Salt Lake County Jail on investigation of homicide and was ordered to be held without bail. The mother and daughter lived together in the home, police said.
The victim's granddaughter called police Friday morning and reported her grandmother — Carol Donlay — was unconscious and bleeding, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Salt Lake's 3rd District Court.
When detectives arrived, they found evidence that Carol Donlay had been stabbed in the chest. She was pronounced dead at 8:27 a.m.
At the home, investigators found blood from the victim's body leading to Lori Donlay's bedroom door.
Blood was also found on Lori Donlay's sheets and her clothing and a bloody knife was found on the bathroom counter, which is in between the two women's bedrooms.
After obtaining a search warrant, detectives found more bloody clothing in Lori Donlay's laundry basket.
Donlay was then taken into police custody, where she told police her mother "deserved it and now she's in a better place," according to the probable cause statement.
She also told police she would never reveal her motive for the stabbing, saying she would "take it to the grave," the affidavit stated.
Lastly, she said her plan was to plead guilty and go to prison.
Carol Donlay's granddaughter told reporters on scene that Lori Donlay has needed mental health treatment for a long time.
Contributing: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio
