Police reassure fearful neighbors of victims

SLIDESHOW: See more photos from the crime scene and press conference

ROY — Carole Stevenson used to feel safe living in the Roy mobile home park she has called home for more than 15 years.

But news that two of her neighbors were found dead Monday evening spread fast among residents and by Tuesday, Stevenson wasn’t sure any more.

“It’s scary,” Stevenson said. “We didn’t know what was going on down there until last night. It’s just frightening.”

The bodies of Pamela Knight Jeffries, 56, and her son, Matthew Roddy, 30, were found stuffed into a closet of their mobile home at Karol’s Mobile Home Estates at 3860 S. Midland Drive around 5 p.m. on Monday after authorities obtained a warrant to search the home.

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, police arrested Jeremy Valdes, 33, and Miranda Statler, 26, for the murders. They say the two were acquainted with the victims. Weber County Attorney Dee Smith said charges may come as soon as this morning.

“There’s still some loose ends being wrapped up as we speak,” Smith said. “We’re meeting with investigators (Tuesday) afternoon.”

Stevenson said her 11-year-old grandson had established a friendship with Roddy after having mowed his lawn a number of times. She described Roddy as “quiet” and “nice” and news that he had been killed terrified the boy and Stevenson’s other grandchild, age 10.

“He asked, ‘Who would do that? He’s a nice guy. If somebody’s going to kill them, will they come kill us?’ ” Stevenson said.

Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham said the last homicide in Roy occurred at the same mobile home park in 2005, but neighbors should not be afraid now that the two people believed to have been responsible in these murders are in custody.

“It’s very important that this community knows we’re still not looking for people who would do them harm as it relates to this crime,” Whinham said.

Reyna Carreño, whose mobile home shares a yard with the victims’ home, said she had a friendly relationship with the two and that they would often work on the yard together.

Carreño has been neighbors with Jeffries since she moved to the mobile home park in 2003. She had gotten to know Roddy after he moved in about a year ago, she said.

“They were good people,” Carreño said in Spanish. “It makes me scared to be here with my three children.”

Updated 5:52 p.m.

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Roy deaths stun neighbors / Police make two arrests

ROY — Carole Stevenson used to feel safe living in the Roy mobile home park she has called home for more than 15 years.

But news that two of her neighbors were found dead Monday evening spread fast among residents and by Tuesday, Stevenson wasn’t sure any more.

“It’s scary,” Stevenson said. “We didn’t know what was going on down there until last night. It’s just frightening.”

Two men are in police custody in connection with the murders of Pamela Knight Jeffries, 56, and her son, Matthew Roddy, 30. Their bodies were found stuffed into a closet of their mobile home at Karol’s Mobile Home Estates at 3860 S. Midland Drive around 5 p.m. on Monday after authorities obtained a warrant to search the home.

Stevenson said her 11-year-old grandson had established a friendship with Roddy after having mowed his lawn a number of times. She described Roddy as “quiet” and “nice” and news that he had been killed terrified the boy and Stevenson’s other grandchild, age 10.

“He asked, ‘Who would do that? He’s a nice guy. If somebody’s going to kill them will they come kill us?’ ” Stevenson said.

Police will not release the names of the two suspects until charges are filed, but say the two were acquainted with the victims.. Weber County Attorney Dee Smith said charges may come as soon as Wednesday morning.

“There’s still some loose ends being wrapped up as we speak,” Smith said. “We’re meeting with investigators (Tuesday) afternoon.”

Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham said the last homicide in Roy occurred at the same mobile home park in 2005, but neighbors should not be afraid now that the two believed to have been responsible in these murders are in custody.

“It’s very important that this community knows we’re still not looking for people who would do them harm as it relates to this crime.”

However, police are not yet commenting on how they believe the murders were committed as the investigation is far from over.

“There are more people that we need to talk to,” Whinham said. “We need to establish motive, we need to solidify what these people had been doing, what has been happening in their life that may have led up to this event.”

Police were first called to the mobile home on Nov. 25 when one resident reported prescription drugs had been stolen from the home. Later that day, neighbors reported pets from that home were wandering outside. Police responded, but nobody answered the door when they arrived. The family’s car was gone and officers thought Jeffries and Roddy might have left.

Police were called back on Saturday after some neighbors reported the pair hadn't been seen since Wednesday, but officers thought they might have left for the holiday weekend. On Monday morning, police entered the home after the family’s vehicle was found abandoned in a lot in Clearfield, but officers did not find the two. After obtaining a warrant, officers were able to look more closely and that’s when the bodies were discovered.

Police will not comment on the cause of death until they hear back from the medical examiner, but say the two had visible injuries.

Reyna Carreño, whose mobile home shares a yard with the victims’ home, said she had a friendly relationship with the two and that they would often work on the yard together.

Carreño has been neighbors with Jeffries since she moved to the mobile home park back in 2003 and had gotten to know Roddy after he moved in about a year ago, she said.

“They were good people,” Carreño said in Spanish. “It makes me scared to be here with my three children.”

Updated 12:57 p.m.

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Roy police investigating possible double homicide

Roy Burton

Standard-Examiner staff

ROY — Police are investigating a possible double homicide after a 56-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son were found dead in a mobile home Monday.

The bodies of the two victims were found hidden inside a home at Karol’s Mobile Estates at 3860 S. Midland Drive in Roy. Police have not released the identity of the victims pending notification of relatives.

Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham said police had been in contact with the victims and with neighbors recently.

Police spoke with the victims in the early morning hours last Wednesday when they reported that prescription drugs had been stolen from the home, Whinham said. Neighbors called later the same day when the family’s pets were seen wandering outside the house. Police responded, but no one answered.

“Over the (Thanksgiving) holiday, two different times we went by, because there were reports that the animals were outside and they generally are inside. (Neighbors) hadn’t seen any activity coming and going,” Whinham said. “Both of those times (later Wednesday and again on Saturday), the family vehicle was gone.”

During the welfare checks, police were able to see inside the main living areas of the home, but could not enter, he said.

“When we reviewed those incidents from the weekend (Monday) morning, with that information, we went forward with a full-fledged investigation to find where these people might be,” Whinham said. “During the daytime, we were able to find the vehicle abandoned in Davis County, and with that piece of information, we were able to put together a warrant to go back into the house and do a complete search. It was during that search we were able to find the two bodies in the residence.”

Whinham said it has not been determined when the mother and son died. Police will not comment on the cause of death until they have something official from the medical examiner.

“We’re talking to a lot of people trying to identify suspects at this time,” Whinham said. “It doesn’t appear that there was any break-in.”
Anyone with information is asked to call (801) 629-8221.

Updated 12:55 a.m.

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ROY — Police in Roy are investigating a possible double homicide after two people were found dead inside a mobile home.

The bodies of 56-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son were found Monday hidden at a home at Karol’s Mobile Estates at 3860 S. Midland Drive. Police have not released the identity of the victims.

Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham told Fox 13 television that police had been asked to do a welfare check at the home, but with the car gone, it appeared the occupants weren’t home.

“We’ve actually tried to make contact Saturday,” Whinham said. “We did a welfare check where we actually were able to look inside the large areas of the home. The car wasn’t here, everything would appear that they weren’t here. It was today that we discovered the car in another location.”

The car was found in Davis County.

Fox 13 also reported that the pair had reported the theft of prescription drugs from the home last Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call (801) 629-8221.