SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Police have identified the 15-year-old girl whose body was found during a welfare check Monday.
Police said Baleigh Bagshaw was ambushed inside her own home Monday and her mother heard part of the deadly attack, according to police.
"She was on the phone with her mother, she was brutally attacked while inside her home," Sgt. Brandon Shearer with the Salt Lake Police Department said. "The mother heard the attack going on and then the phone went dead. At that time the mother called a neighbor to go check on Baileigh who also contacted police."
A short time later, police arrived and found the teenager deceased.
The manhunt continues for the only person of interest in this case, 24-year-old Shaun French.
Investigators have learned French was apparently lying in wait for Baleigh.
The Salt Lake City Police Department announced Tuesday that French had previous contact with Baileigh, and has an active warrant out for unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Baileigh had just returned home from West High School and as was her routine, she called her mother at work to let her know she was home and that everything was okay.
Police aren’t yet calling French a suspect but say he has some sort of connection to the family and that it would not be out of the ordinary for him to be in this neighborhood and around the home.
He drives a very distinctive older model Daihatsu SUV painted in camouflage.
The vehicle has Wyoming license plate number 19-13974.
Vehicle of person of interest in Salt Lake City murder.
He has relatives in Evanston, Wyoming, but also has connections in Denver, Colorado and in Cleveland, Ohio.
Police have notified authorities and are asking motorists along Interstate 80 and also I-90 from Salt Lake City to Cleveland to keep an eye out for this vehicle.
If you have any information you can call salt lake police, 801-799-3000.
Police also released photos of French, who appeared to be a white male with facial hair and glasses.
Police asked anyone with information to call 801-799-3000.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Baleigh's family: https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-costs-for-baleigh
