Ranch Hand's Boss Charged with Murder

Ranch Hand's Boss Charged with Murder


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(KSL/AP News) --

Nearly three years ago, a man's body was discovered in Utah's Jordan River. Now, a Nevada woman, who was a beneficiary on his life insurance, has been charged with murder.

Linda Fields, of Elko County, Nevada, was arrested yesterday. She is accused of killing 61-year-old Jerry Palensky in Nevada and dumping his body in Salt Lake County.

Palensky's body turned up in Utah, in the Jordan River in 2004.

An autopsy revealed Palensky died of blunt force trauma, and detectives began investigating.

Ranch Hand's Boss Charged with Murder

They used the victim's ID, which revealed he worked in Elko County, Nevada.

They learned Palensky worked for Linda Fields, and she was the beneficiary of Palensky's 300 thousand dollar life insurance policy. That policy is now tied up in federal court.

Detectives believe Fields killed Palensky in Nevada, and then dumped his body in Utah.

Lt. Paul Jaroscak/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "He was probably killed in or around the Elko area and the body was brought here to salt lake and dumped here in salt lake."

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