Utah family describes physical, emotional scars from 2020 Christmas morning murder

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OGDEN — Angela Rowley pulled down her face mask to reveal scars from the multiple surgeries required to repair the lower half of her face after a West Valley teen shot her and her husband on Christmas morning in 2020.

"I have a constant reminder of that night every time I look in the mirror," Rowley said in front of an emotional courtroom last week. "Rayburn took my identity that night."

She said she has scars "all over" her body from skin grafts taken to repair her face.

Rowley also testified about the trauma inflicted on her four daughters — then ages ranging from 7 to 15 — as they saw her get injured and witnessed their father, Trevor Anthony Martin, 36, get shot and killed.

"They saw things no child should ever have to experience," she said. "I have pain in my heart for the people who had nothing better to do on Christmas than ruin our lives."

That teen — Rayburn Jimmy Bennett, who was 16 at the time of the killing — was sentenced Friday to a term of 15 years to life in prison for Martin's murder. Second District Judge Camille Neider also sentenced Bennett, now 19, to a second term of 15 years to life for the attempted aggravated murder of Rowley.

Neider ordered the sentences to run concurrently because of Bennett's cooperation, she said, including telling the truth to police and showing efforts to improve. He will be housed at the Weber Valley Detention Center until he turns 25 and will then be transferred to the Utah State Prison.

At 3:20 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2020, police responded to a report that multiple people had been shot at a mobile home park at 5100 S. 1050 West in Riverdale.

Bennett — along with Brittany Ann Rogers, then 31, of Clearfield; and Liam Hughes Tonneson Gale, then 31 — had forced their way into Martin's and Rowley's home, police said. Bennett shot Martin, who died later that day in the hospital. He also shot Rowley, who survived.

We'll never know what it's like to have our family be whole again.

– Kelcie, daughter of murder victim Trevor Anthony Martin

Rowley's oldest daughter, Kelcie, now 17, also testified during the sentencing. She lamented that her father will not be there to walk her and her sisters down the aisle at their future weddings or support them in other important life events.

"There have been so many opportunities missed because of other people's poor decisions," Kelcie said. "We'll never know what it's like to have our family be whole again."

She also talked about the significance of the event happening on Christmas morning.

"Christmas will never be the same because of the bad decisions made that night," Kelcie said. "We have had to go through pain and shock that … no human being should ever go through."

Defense attorney Taylor Hartley said Bennett believed he was going to be committing a robbery that day, but not a murder. He said Gale persuaded Bennett to participate in the crime by telling him he could use the money to help support his family.

"He is haunted by what he did," Hartley said.

The judge said she believes Bennett will likely serve time in prison at least until he is in his 40s.

"Every day while you're going through this process, I want you to think about Angela and those girls and how every day, the decisions you are making about how to live your life and engage in treatment and move forward, is out of respect, in part, to them," Neider told Bennett during the sentencing hearing. "In some way, (this) may be the only way you can honor the life of Trevor that you took."

As of Friday, Bennett had served 875 days in juvenile detention. Neider said she will recommend to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole that Bennett receive credit for his time served so far as part of fulfilling his sentences.

Bennett was also required to pay a restitution fee of $56,797.44.

Bennett pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of murder, a first-degree felony, and attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, as part of a plea deal. He was originally charged with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony. In exchange for his pleas, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

In April, a jury trial found Rogers guilty of murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; plus aggravated assault and obstructing justice, second-degree felonies. Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced May 30.

Gale's case is still pending. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and obstructing justice, first-degree felonies; and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.