Jacob Johnson, 40, was arrested last December 31 in Saratoga Springs, Utah, during a traffic violation that led to a macabre discovery: the lifeless body of his ex-girlfriend, Summer Roney30, was in the back seat of the vehicle.
The case, which initially appeared to be a drunk driving (DUI) incident, has taken a turn toward a criminal investigation. first degree murdershaking the community of Herrimana town located about 48 kilometers from Salt Lake City.
On Tuesday, December 31, agents of the Saratoga Springs Police Department They stopped Johnson in a gas station parking lot after suspecting that he was driving while intoxicated. During the intervention, the officers noticed something unusual inside the vehicle and, upon inspection, found Roney’s body.
Official documents obtained by local television stations such as ABC4 y TO TV They revealed that the woman’s body had wounds and trauma “compatible with a homicide.”
In interviews with investigators, Johnson acknowledged that he had had a relationship with Roney in the past, but said it had ended. According to the testimonies collected by the authorities, the couple had shared a home in Herrimanalthough at the time of the incident they were no longer together.
Johnson explained that, on the night of the events, he held a discussion with Roney that ended up escalating to a physical confrontation.
The victim’s sister Michelle Tischnerstated during an interview with KSL-TV. He last saw Summer on the day of Christmas. However, a red flag went off when Roney missed his 2:00 p.m. shift.
At 12:10 p.m. that Tuesday, police found her lifeless body in the back seat of Johnson’s car.
The agents questioned Johnson about whether he had any injuries, he confirmed that he had suffered “physical trauma,” however, he did not go into details. When asked how the victim had ended up inside the vehicle, he answered that he had put her in himself, according to documents related to the arrest and obtained by local television.
Jacob Johnson remains detained at the Salt Lake County Metropolitan Jail without the right to bail, while facing serious charges of first degree murder. According to jail records, cited by ABC4, a date for the preliminary hearing has not yet been set.
The case has shocked the local community and raises questions about possible signs of violence that may have gone unnoticed in the relationship between Johnson and Roney. As the judicial process continues, the focus is on obtaining justice for the young woman and providing support to her family in this time of grief.
The news of Roney’s death has left a deep wound in those around him. The young woman’s family issued a statement through their lawyer, Christopher Aultdescribing Summer as “a vibrant, kind and loving soul”.
“Summer was a vibrant, kind and loving soul who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her friends, family and co-workers loved her deeply, and will always remember her contagious personality and the joy she brought to their lives,” reads the statement published by various local media.
The statement also reflected the deep pain the loss has caused: “This senseless act has left an insatiable void in our hearts. We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and remember what an incredible person Summer is,” Roney’s family members concluded.
