BLUFFDALE, Utah — After finding a woman’s body inside a car at a gas station in Bluffdale on Tuesday, police have arrested a suspect in connection with her death.
The driver of the car, 40-year-old Jacob Johnson, was booked into Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of a murder charge. Court records show a judge found “substantial evidence to support the charge” and ordered him to be held without bail.
An attorney for the victim's family identified her as Summer Tatiana Roney. They gave the following statement:
"“The family of Summer Tatiana Roney is heartbroken by her tragic and untimely loss. Summer was a vibrant, kind, and loving soul who touched the lives of everyone she met. She was deeply loved by her friends, family, and coworkers, who will always remember her infectious personality and the joy she brought into their lives. This senseless act has left an unfillable void in our hearts. We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and remember the incredible person Summer is.”
Officers with the Herriman Police Department made contact with Johnson at the 7-Eleven gas station on Redwood Road shortly after midnight, after receiving a call from the Saratoga Springs Police Department asking for help with a DUI investigation, according to court documents.
While speaking with Johnson, Herriman officers saw a woman’s body in the back of the car. She had “significant injuries and trauma that would be consistent with a homicide,” according to the probable cause statement.
Police then removed Johnson from the car and took him to the Saratoga Springs Police Department for questioning.
While there, Johnson told officers that he and the victim were “intimate partners, currently living together in Herriman,” the document states.
Johnson also said he was arguing with the woman, “stating that it was over with their relationship.”
Police asked Johnson during the interview if the woman had any injuries and he said “physical trauma but did not elaborate any further,” the probable cause statement continued. “When asked how the victim got into the vehicle Johnson said he put her into the vehicle.”
Court records show Johnson previously pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence. He’s also pleaded guilty over the years to charges including felony theft and burglary, felony drug possession and aggravated robbery.
FOX 13 News is in contact with investigators and will update this article when we learn more.
