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Body found in Tooele Co. identified; four arrested in homicide investigation

Posted at 12:11 PM, Nov 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-23 19:40:20-05

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City police have arrested four people in connection with the disappearance of a man who was reported missing in September and found dead this week in Tooele.

According to a charging document, Jason Nakonechni's mother last saw him on September 2. Three days later, Nakonechni's vehicle was found abandoned and on fire.

Wednesday, police confirmed a Medical Examiner has positively identified a body found in Tooele as Nakonechni. Police also stated the case has now become a homicide investigation.

Police have identified Marilee Borden, Corey Petersen, Michael Snyder and Allison Wells as suspects in Nakonechni's disappearance.

A Salt Lake City Police Department spokesman said investigators believe the suspects lured Nakonechni to a Salt Lake City motel under the guise of meeting one of them for drugs. The charging document said this occurred around 12:40 a.m. on September 4.

After Borden was taken into police custody and read her Miranda rights, she told investigators she met Nakonechni and walked him to the room she had rented, the charging document said.

Once Borden and Nakonechni entered the room, the charging document states, Snyder and two other individuals attacked Nakonechni.

"[Borden] stated Mr. Nakonechni nearly broke away from the individuals and escaped the room, however he was pulled back into the room. Mr. Nakonechni was violently beaten, resulting in blood loss and the loss of several teeth," the charging document said.

A Salt Lake City police detective told FOX 13 that Nakonechni was then taken to West Valley City, where he was robbed of his possessions, including his car.

According to the charging document, a witness described seeing Nakonechni, who had suffered obvious injuries, sitting in a chair at Petersen's home and that Petersen had previously claimed Nakonechni owed him money.

A detective reviewed Nakonechni's social media accounts and found messages between Nakonechni and Petersen in which Petersen accused Nakonechni of owing him money, the charging document states.

Petersen has been charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and the charging document lists Snyder and Borden as co-defendants. Petersen's bail amount has been set at $1,000,007.

Watch FOX 13 News and fox13now.com for updates on this story as the investigation continues.