Anne Kasprzak Murder: 15-Year-Old Victim 'Put Up a Fight'
Anne Kasprzak, 15, reportedly "put up a fight" before her death. Police have arrested two persons on suspicion of murder after her body was pulled out of the Jordan River in Utah last month.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, a passer-by first noticed blood and a shoe near a footbridge over the Jordan River. She had been missing for nearly 24 hours, and police believe that she sneaked out to visit friends. Kasprzak refused sexual advances by suspect Daniel Robert Lehi Ferry, 31.
One witness told police that Ferry "smashed" her head against the wall, knocking her unconscious. Then Ferry, working with Veanuia Vehekite, 30, moved her body into their garage, changed her clothes, and placed her in a vehicle. The witness, known only as "L.J." reported that the two men took the girl's body somewhere else and returned "a couple of hours later."
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"They all had blood on their clothing," "L.J." told police. When he asked Ferry where Kasprzak was, he said, "she went swimming" and "put up one hell of a fight." The police were able to secure search warrants for Ferry's home and collected evidence that "appeared to be consistent" with "L.J's" story.
Kasprzak's body was found in such a deplorable condition that she could only be identified by scars and dental records. One potential lead being investigated is the DNA evidence that could be under a fingernail. Police are hoping to solidify the case against Ferry and Vehekite.
"We're obviously investigating the matter," Salt Lake City District Attorney Blake Nakamura told the Tribune. "We're still considering the charges. Yet the strongest leads point to Ferry and Vehekite."
One question remains: Why would Kasprzak sneak out from her home? According to her uncle Scott, Anne had being going through a "tough time of late. Within the last few years her parents had been divorced and remarried, and that was difficult for her," he told Fox 13.
