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TOOELE —A Pleasant Grove woman has been sentenced to three years of probation for helping her fiance, Brandon Scott Zipperle, cover up the murder of his son's mother.
Elizabeth Anne Ludwig, 29, pleaded guilty on May 14 in 3rd District Court to two counts of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. A third charge of obstructing justice was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
She was sentenced Thursday to between one and 15 years in prison for both counts, but those sentences are suspended if Ludwig successfully completes probation.
Charging documents say she hindered or prevented the investigation into Zipperle after he murdered his former girlfriend and while the girlfriend was reported missing.
In Febuary, Zipperle was sentenced to between 15 years and life in prison for killing Brooklyn Elise Odland Tyree, 23, and leaving her body in the Five Mile Pass recreational area, partially hidden in sagebrush and under a sleeping bag.
On May 3, 2022, Zipperle picked up Tyree and their infant son, Braxton, at Tyree's Salt Lake apartment. He later admitted to shooting her, disposing of her belongings, and having Ludwig pawn the firearm he used, charging documents said.
Three days later, Zipperle sent a message to Tyree's family stating, "She was tired of her family n taking care of Braxton she left em w me n left n y'all will never see my son again," prosecutors said. When the family then asked where Tyree was, Zipperle replied, "Don't know n don't care anymore."
Braxton was later found safe with Zipperle.
Tyree's body was found by a father and son recreating in the area three days after her death. An autopsy showed she was shot in the back of the head, according to charging documents.
At Zipperle's sentencing, Tyree's family and friends said she had always wanted to be a mother and after her son was born, she was happier than ever. Braxton was 7 months old when she was killed.
"You've never seen anybody so happy in your life as Brooklyn with that baby. He should have his mother," said Tyree's aunt, Sharon Ewer.
