Law enforcement officials investigating the disappearance of a teen couple in Utah suspect they were murdered.
Riley Powell, 18, and his girlfriend, Brelynne “Breezy” Otteson, 17, were reported missing Jan. 2 after they never returned to their homes in Eureka from a trip to Lofgreen to visit relatives, the Gephardt Daily reported.
“There is suspicion of homicide, but it’s not being treated as a homicide investigation yet because there’s nothing to indicate there’s been a homicide. But it’s clear there’s foul play,” Otteson’s aunt, Amanda Hunt, told the Deseret News.
Authorities searching for the teens found the Jeep they were traveling in abandoned Jan. 11 near Cherry Creek Reservoir. The vehicle, which was obscured by trees, had two flat tires on the passenger side, according to officials.
Investigators said that foul play is “strongly suspected” due to the condition of the Jeep.
“The rear passenger tire had a puncture in the side wall that appeared to be straight in with a smaller flat shaped object,” authorities said in a warrant. “The front passenger tire had two punctures identical to the rear tire. There was no tear in the side wall that would indicate that the tires were moving when punctured.”
The Jeep’s discovery prompted authorities to obtain a warrant Jan. 15 to search the home of Powell’s mother. Witnesses reported that a pickup truck similar to the one owned by the mom’s boyfriend was seen moving the Jeep to the reservoir where it was found.
“It is suspected that the blue Chevy truck … was used to transport, conceal, hide and plant the victims’ vehicle in Cherry Creek at the location it was discovered, to give the illusion that the victims were indeed stranded,” authorities wrote in the warrant, which was unsealed Monday, according to the Deseret News.
Powell’s mom agreed to be interviewed by police, but her boyfriend is not cooperating with the investigation, according to authorities.
No arrests have been made in the case.
Otteson’s family is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to the couple’s discovery.