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Show &7 EAST 330 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY UT a4111 Vol.6 No. 29 Thursday. July 50 cents 26. 19S4 Grisly murder claims mother, toaby Information charging Ronald W. Lafferty, Highland, with criminal homicide, murder in the first degree, in connection with the brutal slaying Tuesday of an American Fork woman and her old daughter was signed before Judge John Backlund, Eighth Circuit Court, Wednesday. Police identified the victims as Brenda Wright Lafferty and her daughter, Erica Lane. American Fork Police Chief Randy Johnson and Utah County Attorney Noall T. Wootton said of the Lafferty is the brother-in-lavictim. An all points bulletin has been put out for him, Johnson noted. Lafferty is believed driving a 1974 Chevrolet Impala stationwagon, light green in color. Lafferty is believed to be in the company of another brother, Dan Charles Lafferty, and two other unidentified males, officials said. All are described as having beards and as having a "Mountain Man" appearance. Johnson said the victims were found by Allen Lafferty, husband of Mrs. Lafferty, when he returned to his home at 352 E. 500 South from work in Ogden shortly before 8 p.m. Mrs. Lafferty was last seen alive at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, he said. Neighbors reported hearing a commotion at the home about 3 p.m. but thought it was just the television on loud. Johnson said Mrs. Lafferty was found in the kitchen of the residence and the baby was in her crib in the bedroom. He indicated there were signs of a struggle and said cause of both deaths is believed to be a "sharp cutting instrument." An autopsy was being performed Wednesday by the State Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause. The Chief said police have a possible motive, but he was unable to release it at this time. He refused to comment on rumors that "something religious in nature" was involved, saying officials Wednesday morning were still checking out all rumors and leads have come in. This is a very complicated case ai.d at this point we are still drawing II !' erylhing together," he said. Residents of the neighborhood -ani of American Fork - were still in li!K k Wednesday that such a thing mild happen in their community, in a "quiet neigh-!:- : filially hood." Hie Laffertys resided in a brick diijilcx similar to others in the block, ;i fi the night of the slaying many residents said they planned on liking their doors at all times. Ik fore a suspect was announced, residents were afraid the home had lvn picked at random for the sluying. "You just can't imagine anything like this would happen in American Fork, let alone in our neigh- borhood," one commented. Many just stood across the street from the scene watching in near silence as police completed their investigation at the home, even though it was past midnight before any information was released. Bishop Ken Beck of the American Fork LDS 1st Ward said the laffertys had resided in his ward for about a year. Mrs. Lafferty was serving as a Primary teacher at the time of her death. He said the couple were both active, and described Mrs. lafferty as a "real nice The suspect Hon Lafferty. is a former member of the Highland Oi Council His brother, Dan Charles Lafferty made headlines two vents ago as a candidate for Utah County Sheriff when he was arrested for a traffic violation and jailed when he resisted arrest to According acquaintances. Lafferty was actne in he Highland community and I.I)S Church until about three years ago In the intervening period he has been divorced, excommunicated from the LDS Church and re;ortedly became involved wilt' a religious iul which practices polygamy His former wife lives in Florida UP brakeman shot with pellet at Lehi stop A Union Pacific brakeman was shot in the head by an unknown assailant Monday evening in Lehi. C.J. Davis, 30, was struck in the back of the head by a pellet fired from a rifle or pellet gun in the vicinity of 1150 North 200 West. Davis was hit about 10:15 p.m. while working as brakeman on the northbound train. The injured man was taken off the rwiitaairiinB tslmm to the Cot- tonwood Hospital following the projectile was shooting. A surgically removed by doctors at the hospital. Davis was released following the surgery. According to Detective Dennis Estes, the brakeman was bent forward talking to the engineer or it would have been worse. "He could have been hit in the eye or in the temple," Estes said. Union Pacific Railroad officials had received a complaint about 5 p.m. Monday afternoon from a woman who resided in a trailer court at 1150 N. 200 West. The woman complained about the whistles, bells and other noises as the train went by. - Lehi -- police in conjunction with Special Agent Dennis Alms of the Union Pacific Railroad, are following up on leads in the case. If anyone in the area of the shooting has any knowledge of the incident or with information concerning pellet shooting, they are being asked to contact local police. nr&iwM' A J rgvtSy Crowds line the hill surrounding the Cedar Fort rodeo arena for the annual Pioneer Day rodeo held Tuesday. 11 u urv o An? Thp rnrlpn wrannoH Bangerter proposes the pumps are hanging from the ceiling because there's a foot of water on the floor. "Norm Bangerter has been working hard to solve this problem, and his meeting with the governor is very much appreciated," said Edwards. "Norm brought our Utah together County commissioners with the Salt Lake County commissioners, he formed a legislative coalition to address the problem, and he's previously petitioned the governor to get some action on dredging the Jordan. He keeps his commitments, and he's not afraid to do what it takes to solve a problem." In the most recent legislative session, Bangerter helped lead efforts to obtain the funding needed to start engineering work that must be completed before the river can be dredged. f. at Cedar Fort Rodeo Flooding on the shores of Utah Lake currently covers an estimated 40,000 acres of property, including 13,000 acres of useable farmland, according to Edwards. Numerous county and state roads, private homes and farms, and facilities at Utah Lake State Park have been diked. Damages and containment efforts have cost upwards of several million dollars; dredging the Jordan River to increase its capacity and decrease the level of Utah Lake will cost an estimated $10 million. "I think it's very clear that dredging the Jordan is no longer a local or a county issue, but a slate ' concern," said Bangerter. Victims often shoulder blame --they shouldn't rf Ride'm Cowboy help for flooding Floodwaters from Utah Lake were trailed onto the carpet in Gov. Scott M. Matheson's office last week when Norm Bangerter met with the governor to outline a plan of action for dredging the Jordan River and thus sopping up the floods at Utah Lake: Bangerter, who is Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and for a Republican candidate governor, toured the borders of Utah Lake last Friday to determine flood damages and the needs of flood victims near the lake. Later in the day, he met with Gov. Matheson to discuss the agenda for the special legislative session the governor has called for early autumn. A $65 million state surplus and is one topic Bangerter Matheson discussed, and Bangerter wants to use part of that money to dredge the Jordan River. Officials in Salt Lake and Utah Counties say dredging the river will significantly aid flood containment efforts in both counties. "Utah Lake's had flooding problems periodically for over 100 years, and now, with all the flooding problems in Salt Lake Valley, it's past time to dredge the Jordan," said Bangerter. Bangerter toured the dikes and dams surrounding Utah Lake Friday morning with Paul Taylor, president of the Utah Lake Landowners Association, and Phil Edwards, chairman of the Jordan River Dam Commission. One stop on the tour included the Saratoga Pumping Plant near Lehi, where full Most common seating arrangements at the rodeo involved a pick- k of beer. up truck, lawn chairs and a six-pac- Editor's note: This is the third In a series of article dealing with sexual abuse of children. This article deals with programs available to parents and children to help prevent the crime, and to help them cope with the pain and trauma following an instance of sexual abuse. fender's family or the child himself? What about society? Could it have been prevented? Dr. Delbert Pearson, psychiatrist on staff at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, say9 people need to be very careful assigning the blame. "The victim did nothing wrong. I don't blame the child, the child has been hurt," declares Dr. Pearson, By SHARON MOKKKY When a child is a victim of sexual noting that sometimes abuse, who is to blame? The of- programs and their instigators fender, the child's parents, the of mistakenly give the impression that g 4 The stock was wild, often unexperienced, and sometimes troublesome, as it was for this cowboy who grabbed on with his required free hand before time had expired. because mistakes were made, a victim was created. "Be a proper parent, take time with your kids, 30 minutes a week at least to really listen and talk to them. Teach them they are in command, thai it's okay to say, No,' " urges Dr. Pearson. "But then realize that these things happen and the chi'd is not at fault. No one 'deserves' to be molested, whether he or ho Is scantily clad, alone at night Oi out where he or she shouldn't be No one deserves it and the victim should be protected from that burden of guilt ." At a recent seminar in Orem, Dr. Pearson and other experts on child molestation and abuse identified some good programs designed to help prevent possible crimes against children but noted that no program is foolproof. Dr. Ralph Crabb of the Orem Detectives Division noted that even bee Child abuse on page 3. |