Cause and place of death

Court documents state say the women were found shot to death near where they were camping, in a creek.

Sources report the couple were found shot dead in the “South Mesa area of the La Sal Loop Road” (Serna-Diez “Private”). A map with a pinpointed location is provided by Foxnews (Ruiz “Moab Murders”)­. The map is near the intersection of Road FR4651 and La Sal Loop Road.

Addy Bink reported that a search document requested a "tower dump"of phone data from a two mile radius of where the women were found.

Attractions in the area where the women were murdered include the Porcupine Rim Campground and La Sal Lookout Point. Both are highly rated tourist destinations (google maps). Also very nearby is the Whispering Oaks Ranch, “rustic-chic cabins on a 50 acre estate” (google maps). Additional areas nearby include Warner Lake and Brumley Arch. A bit farther away, on the other side of Moab, is the Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs (west of Moab) and Arches National Park (north of Moab). About an hour to the west of La Sal Loop Road is Canyonland National Park.

When they were found, the women had multiple gunshot wounds and were only clothed from the waist up (Curtis “Warrants”).

The gunshot wounds on both women were “located on the backs, sides, and/or chests of the victims,” according to court documents (Curtis). @ Peaches La Rue states they were both shot in the back.

A tent and a pet rabbit shelter were found at the campsite, and supplies and such were interpreted to mean that the women were living at the campsite long-term (Curtis). A common name for this practice is "boondocking." I noticed when I typed in the road number, "FR4651," boondocking - places to boondock came up in the google search first.

The women’s two vehicles have been seized and searched by LE. The Kia Sorento was at their campsite. A 1987 Ford Econoline van was left at a McDonalds' parking lot, and is reported not to be running (Curtis, @xxjane doexx). The van was towed by police. In it were a number of the women’s personal items including “a journal, a Bible, newspaper clippings” along with mail and pay-stubs belonging to the two women. Notes with phone numbers and additional handwritten information was also among the belongings, along with “mail for a family member of one of the women” (Curtis).

According to Curtis, papers found in the van showed the women owned a storage unit that was paid for by a family member. The family member when contacted by law enforcement, stated the storage unit was jointly owned and gave the police permission to search it.

“Officials with the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said they believe someone killed the women and fled the area” (Curtis).