New information about murder of woman, 8-year-old in Saratoga Springs unsealed

Yahoo

10-07-2025

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah () — More information about what was discovered at the scene of a double homicide in Saratoga Springs has been revealed after search warrants were unsealed today.
In March, the Saratoga Springs Police Department of a double homicide as Eli Painter, 8, and Jessica Lyman, 44. 8-year-old Painter would be pronounced deceased at the scene. three days after the incident, on March 31.
UPDATE: Family releases statement on Saratoga Springs homicide where woman, 8-year-old were killed
On Mar. 28, police responded to a 911 call in the area of 1200 N Willowbrook Lane in Saratoga Springs. The 17-year-old caller reported that she had returned home and found the two victims lying unconscious on the floor, covered in blood. She also stated that she believed a 15-year-old to be in the home.
New information from search warrants has revealed that officers found Lyman and Painter in the master bedroom, both having been shot in the head 'with a small caliber round.' Painter was cold to the touch, pale, and in rigor mortis, according to documents.
Lyman, the adult woman, was found to have her pants 'down around her knees.' When officers checked for a pulse, she showed signs of life. The officer initiated CPR until paramedics took over and transported her to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
A 15-year-old male was located in an upstairs bedroom and told officers he had been asleep. He was escorted to the living room. While waiting with an officer, the teen allegedly asked what happened multiple times and claimed he hadn't heard anything. The officer asked if the 15-year-old was aware of any 'weapons' inside the home, and he responded that he wasn't aware of any 'guns,' despite no mention of guns being the cause of death.
A search warrant was served on the residence, and two .22 shell casings were found inside the master bedroom. Using an alternate light source tool, crime scene technicians identified what they believed to be seminal fluids on the sheets near the area where Lyman was found.
PREVIOUSLY: Search warrants unsealed from Saratoga Springs incident where 8-year-old died
'They're drawing more indirect and direct correlations to the 15-year-old that was in the house,' Chris Bertram, a private investigator, told ABC4.com.
The 15-year-old's bedroom was found 'in a state of disarray,' according to documents. Inside, officers located an empty beer can, two BB gun pistols, and handwritten notes. One note referenced 'serology,' 'DNA,' and 'firearm testing.' Another handwritten note stated 'this is a murder story.'
The doctor who was treating Lyman at the hospital before she passed away told police that he had located a substance that 'could be sperm' on Lyman. Doctors confirmed that she had experienced a gunshot wound to the head.
'Then they find other evidence that leads them to believe that there may be other circumstances in his case, especially evidence that may be related to a sexual assault,' Bertram said.
After an autopsy was performed on 8-year-old Eli Painter, the medical examiner confirmed that he had been killed by 'two fatal gunshot wounds to the head.'
'If a juvenile is involved in this, it's not something we discuss until charges are filed and adult charges are filed,' Bertram said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman dies after being found injured in Saratoga Springs home with 8-year-old son
Surveillance footage revealed that an individual could be seen walking around the residence during the early morning hours of March 28. They can be seen putting a white mask over their face, documents say, and walking behind a nearby residence, which reportedly has a connecting gravel path to the home where the murders took place.
A mask matching that description was uncovered in the 15-year-old's bedroom after another search warrant was filed by police, documents say. A basement door was also found to be unlocked. Search and Rescue teams, as well as dogs and drones, checked for any evidence nearby but did not locate the firearm used in the murder or anything else relevant.
'They're bringing that through the video evidence they found at the scene that matches the mask that they may have seen that's similar if not the same to the mask that they saw in the video of the person coming in and out of the house, they also find writings that are very telling as to a death or homicide investigating,' Bertram said.
A search warrant was returned on Lyman's cell phone, and officers located a text conversation between her and the 15-year-old. He made various threats toward the woman, saying things like, 'shut up witch,' 'I'm more happy when I'm not around you,' 'you're so f— mentally ill,' and 'do you know how insignificant you really are to my life?'
The search warrant that was unsealed was filed for information on the 15-year-old's cell phone. No information that was returned from that search is public yet. No suspects have been publicly identified by authorities, and information in search warrants only reveals evidence collected by police.
If the 15-year-old was involved in the crime, he 'may be in a juvenile facility, in a mental health facility, in a hospital, or with other family members who can account for him,' Bertram explained.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the toll-free Statewide 24-hour Sexual Violence Crisis and Information Hotline at 1-888-421-1100. Click here for a list of Rape Crisis Resources in Utah.
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