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Utahn arrested in connection with triple homicide that occurred in Idaho in 2013

Posted at 4:17 PM, Feb 12, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-12 18:18:48-05

HOLBROOK, Idaho – Three people were found shot to death in a home in Holbrook, Idaho in April of 2013, and two young children and more than 70 dogs were located alive at the scene; Thursday, police in Idaho announced they had made an arrest in connection with the triple homicide.

According to a press release from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, 35-year-old Severo Luera of Tremonton, Utah was arrested, “on an Idaho felony warrant in connection with the triple homicide in Holbrook on April 4, 2013.”

Police did not refer to Luera as a suspect and did not specify what his relationship to the alleged crime might be. The release stated the investigation is ongoing and that further comments would not be made regarding the case at this time.

Trent Jon Christensen, 32; Yavette Chivon Carter, 27; and Brent L. Christensen, 61, were found dead when a family friend stopped by their home. The three had been shot to death. Two children, then aged 2 and 2-months-old, were found alive at the scene. The deceased are the children’s parents and grandfather.

In 2013, Oneida County Sheriff Jeff Semrad said it appears the mother of the children, Carter, tried to protect her children.

“When my officers went in, the mother had actually taken the baby and put her under her arm to try and protect the baby when this all happened,” Semrad said in 2013.

Police also stated at the time there was evidence to suggest the suspect was not known to the victims.

“It definitely started at the front door,” he said in 2013. “There are signs of a struggle inside. There are signs there and evidence that they did know one another.”

There were also about 70 dogs believed to be part of a dog fighting ring and evidence of a marijuana grow operation.The dogs were taken from the scene and given to Humane Society personnel in Boise.

Police ask anyone with information about the homicides to call the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office at 208-766-2251.