Under a low-growing tree standing guard in the Elmo City cemetery is the grave of Loretta M. Jones. Jones was buried there over 45 years ago after being brutally raped and murdered in her Price home on July 30, 1970. She was 23 years old.
Carbon County investigators have since been unable to charge anyone with the crime. There was no evidence found linking anyone to the horrific act nor has a murder weapon ever been recovered. A few suspects were identified and one was even held in jail. This suspect was later released by a judge because of the lack of hard evidence in the case.
In 1970, Jones had a 4-year-old daughter who occupied the home with her. This little girl had the misfortune of discovering her mother’s body and running to a neighbor for help the following morning.
Helper resident Heidi Asay is the daughter that found her mother that ill-fated morning. Try as she might, Asay, having spent many sleepless nights with the unsolved crime on her mind, cannot remember many details from that night nearly 46 years ago that would help solve the crime and offer some semblance of closure. However, Asay does remember and can identify a man that was there that night. She also vividly remembers looking through the a skeleton keyhole from her bedroom to the living room and seeing her lifeless mother in a pool of blood.
Fast-forward about forty years. Asay, who left the area after high school, had recently moved back to Carbon County. By happenstance, Asay ran into her Carbon High classmate David Brewer at a local arts festival. While catching up, Asay learned that Brewer was a detective for the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. She did not hesitate to ask him about her mother’s case.
Intrigued by the details and the fact that the murder was still unsolved, Brewer agreed to look into the case. What he found was not encouraging. There was no evidence to be found. The case was not only cold, it was ice-cold.
Beginning in 2009 with a few newspaper clippings and a medical examiner’s report from the 1970 crime, Brewer has been able to add heat to this frozen case. His persistent search for justice led up to an eventful day for the case on Tuesday.
Jones’ body was exhumed from the Elmo City Cemetery Tuesday afternoon, where her body has been the last 46 years. Brewer is hopeful that DNA evidence will be found on the body that will link a suspect to the crime.
The process of the exhumation was a lengthy one. The crew that exhumed the body wanted to offer it and the family the proper respect. “I would like to give a huge shout out to Carbon County Sheriff’s Office for handling this with the utmost respect to my Mom,” Asay shared in a social media post Tuesday evening. “Also, to all the people who assisted in making this happen. I can’t thank you enough for the love, support and for believing.”
Once the vault containing the casket was exhumed from the gravesite, it was transported to a secure location in Price. Upon arrival, the vault and casket were both opened and the state crime lab conducted an examination of the body.
Following the examination, someone accompanied Jones’ body from the sheriff’s office around the clock until it was returned to the cemetery.
Friends and family gathered at the Elmo City Cemetery Wednesday afternoon for a grave re-dedication ceremony.
Asay read a poem that her mother had written as a teenager and concluded with a touching poem about mothers.
“I miss my mommy,” she shared at one point in her presentation.
A prayer was offered by a family member to dedicate the grave to end the service.
Loretta M. Jones was laid to rest once again, placed under a guardian tree lovingly planted many years ago by a grieving family who is still searching for answers.
At the time of publication, it was unknown if investigators were able to harvest any DNA from Jones’ body. If you have any information about this case, please contact Sergeant Brewer with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.
