SIERRA NEWBOLD - 6 yo - West Jordan UT

Girl's body found near home in West Jordan

By Benjamin Wood
June 26th, 2012 @ 12:18pm

WEST JORDAN — Police are investigating the death of a 6-year-old girl, who was found dead in a canal near her home Tuesday morning.

Police are calling her death "suspicious" and a possible homicide. It occurred in the same neighborhood where a fire destroyed two houses on Saturday.

Just before 7:30 this morning, the girl's family called police to report that she was missing from her home at 2383 W. 7095 South. Officers started searching the area and soon found her in the canal, not far from her home, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders.

She was dead at the scene. Sanders said there was no initial obvious trauma to her body, but because of the circumstances, they are looking at her death as a possible homicide.

"We have to be careful about what goes out because misinformation can be harmful," he said.

The child's body will be taken to the medical examiner for an autopsy. Her name had not yet been released.

"I didn't know her too well, but she was always smiling, always running around," neighbor Bryan Gaiford said of the 6-year-old.

The death occurred in the same neighborhood where a fire burned two homes on Saturday. Both homes were destroyed after a tree fell on a power line, which sparked a fire in a field behind the homes. Wind and heat then spread the flames to the homes and created difficult conditions for firefighters.

"This neighborhood has been through a lot," Gaiford said Tuesday.

The girl lives in an area near an elementary school, but police said on Twitter that the death had nothing to do with the school.

"While the child lives in a neighborhood, rumors that part of this incident occurred at WJ Elem are FALSE. No known danger to the public. Will share more as facts are known," the tweet stated.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=21003149&s_cid=article-popular-2

Autopsy shows West Jordan girl sexually assaulted, killed
Medical examiner also finds evidence that 6-year-old girl was sexually assaulted.

By Janelle Stecklein, The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published 18 minutes ago • Updated 1 minute ago

West Jordan » Police said Wednesday that the Tuesday death of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold has been ruled a homicide.

Sgt. Drew Sanders also said the autopsy showed evidence that the girl was sexually assaulted.

He said the medical examiner’s office has determined a cause of death for the 6-year-old, but police are withholding that so as not to compromise the investigation.

"We have to figure out who did this," he said, noting that police have not yet taken anyone into custody.

Police found Sierra’s body in a canal Tuesday morning about a block away from her home, about 30 minutes after her mother reported her missing from the family’s home, near 2400 West and 7100 South.

But at the same time, Sanders said the public and neighbors should not be alarmed, but recommended that people take normal precautions like locking their doors and windows and keeping an eye on their children while they play outdoors.

"We do have evidence now that indicates this is more of an isolated incident," Sanders said. "We don’t think there is a predator on the loose."

Police said Tuesday afternoon that there were no obvious sign of a break-in at the home.

Sanders confirmed Wednesday that surveillance video at the Newbold home captured images, but said he could not discuss what those images showed. He also said police were withholding how long Sierra had been dead before police found her body, how she might have ended up in the canal, and if they recovered DNA evidence because they don’t want to compromise the ongoing investigation.

Sierra’s mother discovered she was gone from her bedroom and called police at 7:27 a.m. Tuesday.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54385955-78/police-girl-evidence-sierra.html.csp

Memories of unsolved murder called to mind in 6-year-old's death

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21012743


Almost 17 years later, Rosie's mother still feels the pain of a daughter killed before she started the first grade.

"Over the years, you know, it still hurts me a lot," Lewine tapia said.

It didn't take long for family members and friends to draw conclusions Tuesday between the tragic deaths of Rosie Tapia and Sierra Newbold.

"It looks like a 6-year-old girl, they found her in the canal, she goes, just like Rosie," Tapia said.

They were both six years old, they were both taken from or left their homes in the middle of the night and both their bodies were found in a canal nearby.

'Monster' killed, sexually assaulted 6-year-old girl, West Jordan chief says

By Ben Wood, Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, June 27 2012 4:40 p.m. MDT

WEST JORDAN — Police say a 6-year-old West Jordan girl found in a canal near her home Tuesday was murdered.

An autopsy indicated that someone killed Sierra Newbold, said West Jordan Police Chief Doug Diamond. The autopsy also indicated that the child had been sexually assaulted.

"There is obviously a predator out there who is a monster, who killed a child," Diamond said.

Increased police patrols have been ordered in the neighborhood and the chief asked parents to take precautions with their children. He said investigators don't know whether the girl's death was an isolated incident, but encouraged residents not to be fearful.

"I believe there's no need to panic at this time," he said.

Police would not say how the child was killed or what information led them to classify the death as a homicide. "We are not saying why we know that, just that we do know that," said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders.

Just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, family members called police to report that Sierra was missing from her home at 2383 W. 7095 South. Officers started searching the area and soon found her in a nearby canal. She was dead at the scene.

Diamond declined to provide details about her condition, but said, "There was not a significant amount of trauma on the body."

Detectives have been gathering evidence and conducting interviews, but no arrests have been made in the case.

"No one has been ruled out at this point" as suspects, Sanders said. "What's most important now is that we catch whoever did this."

Diamond said he did not know whether she was taken from her home, but said police share in the "sadness and outrage" over the girl's death and remain focused on finding who is responsible. He asked that the community extend police their support and patience.

On Tuesday, pink and purple ribbons were tied around trees, mailboxes and light posts near the home where Sierra lived. Samantha Robinson, a neighbor, said neighbors and members of the local LDS Church ward tied the ribbons Monday night in honor of Sierra's favorite colors.

"They really came from everyone because Sierra was known by everyone in the ward," Robinson said.

Robinson described Sierra as "sweet" and said when she smiled, she looked like an angel. News of a homicide was alarming, but she said she still feels confident that the close-knit neighborhood is safe.


"I'm fairly new and I believe I moved into a good neighborhood and it's still a good neighborhood," she said. "We watch out for each other. We're struggling, but we'll make it through."

Another neighbor, Todd Archuleta, said it's shocking to realize something so terrible happened near his home, where he and many of his neighbors have lived for decades. Just a few nights ago, he said his nephews were sleeping outside on a trampoline — something they won't be doing anymore.

"I've lived here for 30 to 35 years and I've never seen anything like this before," he said.

Robinson had difficulty speaking about what happened to Sierra.

"I can't fathom how someone can get in such a state that they feel they can harm anybody, especially a child," she said.

The case appears to have similarities to an unsolved West Jordan homicide that occurred in August 1995. Two days after going missing, the body of 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was found in a canal near her family’s Glendale-area apartment. Police ruled her death to be a murder, but leads eventually ran cold. Rosie would have turned 23 this August.

Rosie’s mother, Lewine Tapia, said Monday she still feels the pain of losing her daughter. She said every new story of a crime against children brings back memories of Rosie.

"I've been waiting for 17 years and still nothing," Tapia said. "Hopefully, this time, they will find closure right away."

A fund has been set up in Sierra's name to assist the family with funeral costs. Individuals wishing to donate can do so through America First Credit Union.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865558174/West-Jordan-6-year-old-was-sexually-assaulted-murdered-police-say.html?pg=1

WEST JORDAN, Utah – A 6-year-old Utah girl was found dead in a canal Tuesday after her mother reported her missing from her bedroom.


Police say Sierra Newbold was sexually assaulted, murdered and left
in the canal near her home in West Jordan, a suburb of Salt Lake City,
Fox 13 reports.


The girl's grandfather tells The Associated Press the child's mother
went into her bedroom at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and Sierra was
gone.


"We don't have any idea how the girl disappeared or whether she was
taken from the bedroom," Reed Newbold told The Associated Press. "It's a
complete mystery."


Police say they found the child's body in the canal just 30 minutes
after her mother reported her missing. An autopsy revealed she had been
sexually assaulted and investigators officially ruled her death a
homicide Wednesday.


Police Chief Doug Diamond says at this point investigators have no suspects, but believe the murder was an isolated incident.


He said that while residents in the area shouldn't panic, "there's obviously a predator out there."


"Our highest priority now is to identify, arrest, and successfully
prosecute the person or persons responsible for this crime," Diamond
said. "I share in the concern of our residents for the ongoing safety
and security of our children."


Police say the child's parents are cooperating in the investigation, and Newbold says the parents are not suspects.


Police said there were no signs of a break-in at the family's home,
but declined to provide further details of the investigation.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/27/utah-6-year-old-found-dead-in-canal-was-murdered-police-say/#ixzz1z5C9o7fh

Sierra Lynn Newbold (2005 - 2012) - Obituary

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=sierra-lynn-newbold&pid=158254870

06/28/2012
"We don't have any idea how the girl disappeared or whether she was
taken from the bedroom. It's a complete mystery," said Reed Newbold,
Sierra's grandfather.

An autopsy has shown that she was sexually assaulted and her death
has been ruled a homicide. The police would not say if the autopsy was
able to collect any DNA evidence, so as to not jeopardize their
investigation, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.


"Our highest priority now is to identify, arrest, and successfully
prosecute the person or persons responsible for this crime," said Police
Chief Doug Diamond. "I share in the concern of our residents for the
ongoing safety and security of our children."

Diamond declined to give anymore details but did say, "There was not a significant amount of trauma on the body."

"There is obviously a predator out there that is a monster, that has
murdered a child," Diamond said. "Is this predator targeting other
children? I have no idea at this point."

Sierra's murder is similar to another West Jordan homicide in August
1995, when 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was taken from her home at the
Glendale area apartments and her body was found in a canal near her
home. In 2010 police had a person of interest they were talking to,
but no arrest was made.

The police so far are saying that it is an isolated incident and no arrests have been made in the case, reports the Huffington Post, although the police have increased police patrols and asked parents to take precautions to protect their children.

Police have said there was no sign of a break-in at the family's home, and they are currently analyzing surveillance video.

http://www.examiner.com/article/monster-murdered-sexually-assaulted-child-utah-police-chief-says?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Sierra's murder is similar to another West Jordan homicide in August
1995, when 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was taken from her home at the
Glendale area apartments and her body was found in a canal near her
home. In 2010 police had a person of interest they were talking to,
but no arrest was made.

---If this were "Criminal Minds", I would say something like: That's an awfully long time in between murders if it's the same unsub.
17 years is a very long time for a serial killer/ pedo. Two things are possible:
1) Same unsub and there are scattered about the countryside similar murders in style and dumping area that have not had their dots connected yet.
2) Copycat

This is not a Lust based crime. Those killers use mutilation and torture (Jeffrey Dahmer). According to reports up to this point there wasn't that aspect.
More than likely this was a Power/Control freak. Here's a brief description of their mindset:

The main objective for this type of serial killer is to gain and exert power over their victim. Such killers are sometimes abused as children, leaving them with feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy as adults. Many power- or control-motivated killers sexually abuse their victims, but they differ from hedonistic killers in that rape is not motivated by lust but as simply another form of dominating the victim

Whatever the case I suspect this person is attracted to this age of victim because of their powerlessness to fight back and he harbors thoughts of retribution for an event that occurred with a female (mother? friend?) sometime in the past.

WEST JORDAN — Police remained tight-lipped Thursday about their investigation into the killing and
sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl.

Officers declined to answer a series of questions, saying they don't want to compromise the investigation.
"This is our highest priority. We're working very hard to identify, arrest and successfully prosecute the person
or people responsible," said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders.

Sanders declined Thursday to answer questions about the last time Sierra was seen, whether there was evidence of
forced entry into the house, whether Sierra shared a room with one of her siblings who were in the house at the
time, or the exact wording the mother used to talk about her missing daughter.

Sierra's mother called police at 7:27 a.m. Tuesday to report that her daughter was missing from her bedroom at
their home, 2383 W. 7095 South. Sometime later that morning, an officer found Sierra's body in a nearby
canal. Investigators have also declined to reveal how she died.

Police could not say Thursday whether they believe Sierra was targeted in the attack or if she became a
victim at random. Sanders said as of Thursday, no one had been cleared as a suspect.

"We have not ruled anyone out," he said.

Sierra's mourning family announced funeral arrangements Thursday for their "sweet angel." The funeral will be held
Saturday at the LDS West Jordan 27th Ward, 2666 W. 7000 South.

Born Nov. 8, 2005, family members say Sierra "was outgoing and made friends everywhere she went," according
to her obituary.

They remembered her as someone who was "eager to grow up" and do adult things such as driving and having her
"very own" cellphone. She also enjoyed drawing, dancing, hiking, soccer and "loved life and lived it to the
fullest," the obituary stated.

Sierra would have started first grade at West Jordan Elementary School in the fall.

She is survived by her parents Brad and Kathy Newbold, two brothers and three sisters including Taylor, her best
friend.

"They did everything together. She had the amazing ability to make everyone happy with her big brown eyes
and her beautiful smile," her family said in the obituary.

"The family would like to thank the outpouring of love, prayers and support from our family, neighborhood
family and community. Sierra will leave a huge hole in the hearts of everyone who knew her. She will be deeply
missed and is loved dearly by her family and friends."

West Jordan Police Chief Doug Diamond said Wednesday that there was "obviously a predator out there that is a
monster." Sanders clarified Thursday the chief did not necessarily mean there was someone running loose in the
neighborhood grabbing and assaulting children.
He only meant that the person responsible for the crime is a "monster."

Sierra's family was temporarily not allowed inside their house as detectives processed it for evidence.
Sanders said he could not discuss Thursday whether any additional evidence had been collected. He added that
investigators were still reviewing a video recording from a home surveillance system.
The FBI is assisting in that effort.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call police at 801-256-2211.
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=21037621&nid=960

I shed tears and my heart and soul cries for this little angel. RIP little one. My prayers go to her and her family.

I hope they catch this man. I think he should be castrated and hung with piano wire.

We should all be screaming for Justice.

William

Authorities are examining surveillance video taken from the home of a
6-year-old Utah girl who police say was sexually assaulted and murdered
before being dumped in a nearby canal.

West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders told FoxNews.com that security
footage taken from the home of Sierra Newbold "has images" of interest
that authorities are analyzing, though he did not elaborate.

No persons of interest or suspects have been publicly identified,
Sanders said, and the child's family members have not been eliminated as
possible suspects in the investigation.

"We haven't ruled anyone out," Sanders said Friday.

Sierra, who lived in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan, was
reported missing by her mother at 7:27 a.m. Tuesday, police said. Her
body was reportedly discovered about 30 minutes later in a canal near
her family's home. An autopsy revealed she had been sexually assaulted.

Local news outlets had said that the girl was kidnapped and killed
within a 30-minute time frame, but Sanders said Tuesday that the report was incorrect.

Sierra was found "a short time" after her mother reported her missing, he said, "but time of death has not been released."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/29/police-analyze-images-on-surveillance-tape-for-clues-in-murder-sexual-assault-6/#ixzz1zEgONWJI

TomTerrific0420 wrote:

Sierra's murder is similar to another West Jordan homicide in August
1995, when 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was taken from her home at the
Glendale area apartments and her body was found in a canal near her
home. In 2010 police had a person of interest they were talking to,
but no arrest was made.

---If this were "Criminal Minds", I would say something like: That's an awfully long time in between murders if it's the same unsub.
17 years is a very long time for a serial killer/ pedo. Two things are possible:
1) Same unsub and there are scattered about the countryside similar murders in style and dumping area that have not had their dots connected yet.
2) Copycat

This is not a Lust based crime. Those killers use mutilation and torture (Jeffrey Dahmer). According to reports up to this point there wasn't that aspect.
More than likely this was a Power/Control freak. Here's a brief description of their mindset:

The main objective for this type of serial killer is to gain and exert power over their victim. Such killers are sometimes abused as children, leaving them with feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy as adults. Many power- or control-motivated killers sexually abuse their victims, but they differ from hedonistic killers in that rape is not motivated by lust but as simply another form of dominating the victim

Whatever the case I suspect this person is attracted to this age of victim because of their powerlessness to fight back and he harbors thoughts of retribution for an event that occurred with a female (mother? friend?) sometime in the past.

Good thoughts Tom. Just wanted to throw this out there. West Jordan and Tuscon are in neighboring states. Only a 13 hour drive from where Isabel Celis disappeared from in similar circumstances. Same age and they sure look alike to me. The bottom photo is Isabel.
Sierra Newbold


Isabel Celis

Kiwi (my friend from the other hemisphere) I would acknowledge the similar circumstances, facial characteristics, age and the proximity but there's one thing missing...ISABEL.
Sierra's ravaged body was found in pretty short order. The investigators and volunteers in both cases did similar intense searches; but no Isabel.
In the past you have come out on the side of Sergio's purported innocence while I feel he's holding the key to that investigation. You are certainly entitled to have and voice your feelings as am I.
Unless, perhaps, you are suggesting that Sergio may be a person of interest in this case as well. That would be a stretch in my mind but many serial perps have had seemingly innocuous lives under the proverbial radar. Maybe you are on to something....hmmmm

- A former FBI agent says the murder of a 6-year old girl doesn't have the markings of a sex offender.
Tuesday,
Sierra Newbold was taken from her home, sexually assaulted and her body
was dumped in a nearby canal according to West Jordan police.

On Friday, police continued their investigation but offered no information about a suspect.

"The timing doesn't fit well for someone to be prowling," says Lou Bertram a former FBI agent.

Newbold was taken from her home sometime after 7 a.m. according to police.

"That hour bothers me a little bit," Bertram says.

Police
have been going door to door since they began their investigation.
Bertram says one group of people investigators focus on are convicted
sex offenders who live in the area.

ABC 4 News learned there
were a dozen sex offenders on Utah's Sex Offender registry that live
within a mile of the Newbold family.

Police would not say if
there were any obvious signs of a break-in at the home. But they do say
her father had left the house to go to work leaving behind the mother
and her children.

Bertram says police will investigate the family to rule them out as suspects.

"You have to step on toes and rule them out as quickly as possible," he says.

Police
say there were others living in the household including brothers and
sisters. ABC 4 News checked family records and learned the oldest was a
17-year old boy.

Bertram says police will also expand their circle from the family to acquaintances and maintaince people and neighbors.

"Look
at the (Eliabeth) Smart case," Bertram says. "It was an early hour
abduction and police missed that it was a maintaince worker. He (Brian
MItchell) had access to the house."

Bertram says West Jordan police need to tap into available resources in the valley.

"They
need to be agressively investigating from the get go," he says. "They
have to call in resources. The first 48-hours are the most critical."

In fact, the FBI was brought in to analyze the surveillance video taken by surveillance cameras at the Newbold home.

"It could be circumstantial but it could lead to a suspect in the abduction of the child," Bertram says.

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Who-killed-Sierra/PY9bwWXJM0GW8qOyGoj7WQ.cspx

The family of a 6-year-old Utah girl who police say was sexually
assaulted and murdered last week is pleading for the public's help in
nabbing her killer.


In a letter obtained by FoxNews.com, Brad Newbold, of West Jordan,
Utah, described his daughter, Sierra, as a "bright star" and urged
members of the public to come forward if they have any information about
her death.


The child was sexually assaulted and murdered before being dumped in a
canal not far from her home in the Salt Lake City suburb of West
Jordan, authorities said. Her body was found about 30 minutes after her
mother reported her missing Tuesday morning.


"Our family is devastated and we are grieving heavily about the loss
of Sierra and the circumstances surrounding her death," Newbold wrote.
"The hole left in our lives by her absence can never be repaired."


"We are cooperating fully with the police in the hope that the
responsible person is ultimately arrested and prosecuted," he said. "I
plead with anyone who has information about the death of my daughter to
please call the West Jordan Police Department at 801-256-2211."


West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders told FoxNews.com last week that
security footage taken from the Newbold home "has images" of interest
that authorities are analyzing, though he did not elaborate. No persons
of interest or suspects have been named in the case.


Sierra was remembered at her funeral Saturday as an "outgoing" child
who "made friends everywhere she went," the Deseret News reported.


"She was eager to grow up and drive and get her very own cellphone,"
her uncle, Michael Mahoney, told the newspaper. Others recalled how the
girl had donated some of her hair last year to be used for wigs for
cancer patients, according to the newspaper.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/02/family-utah-girl-allegedly-sexually-assaulted-murdered-pleads-for-public-help/#ixzz1zUSYRW3T

Neighbors of slain 6-year-old still nervous; West Jordan police remain tight-lipped

By Ashley Kewish and Pat Reavy, Deseret News
Published: Thursday, July 5 2012 6:52 p.m. MDT

WEST JORDAN — While police say their investigation into the killing of a 6-year-old girl is continuing, they have released no new information for several days.

Worried residents in Sierra Newbold's West Jordan neighborhood say their street hasn't been the same since the young girl's body was discovered.

"We're all nervous around here. There's a lot of children and now you don't see them out here playing like they used to and everyone is afraid to let their kids out," neighbor Lana Spencer said.

Sierra's body was found in a canal near her home on June 25. No one has been arrested nor any suspects named in the case.

At her home, a pile of teddy bears placed in her honor remained outside the house on Thursday. Pink and purple ribbons put up by neighbors dotted the street. Those were the child's favorite colors.

"We've got a tight community around here and everyone has been very supportive," said Spencer.

Sierra's mother called police just before 7:30 a.m. on June 25 to report she was missing from her home at 2383 W. 7095 South. Officers started searching the area and found her dead a short time later. An autopsy indicated she had been sexually assaulted.

Police have not commented on a possible cause of death and have only said that no one has been ruled out as a suspect.

"There is obviously a predator out there that is a monster, that has murdered a child," West Jordan Police Chief Doug Diamond said at a news conference after the child was found. "Is this predator targeting other children? I have no idea at this point."

Since that day, Spencer no longer keeps her window open at night.

"Because this predator is still out there," she said. "It's take a lot from the kids, too. They don't feel free to go out in their own neighborhood."

"Everything is locked up at night," added Grant Parker, who lives near the canal where Sierra's body was found.

"I wish they would get to the bottom of it," said Merna Parker, Grant's wife. "It's kind of scary for the other kids in the neighborhood."

Some have wondered about a mysterious van seen in the area prior to the girl's death and whether it had anything to do with the case.

West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders said his department would only be releasing factual information about the case and not responding to rumors or speculation. If someone has a possible tip or lead, they should contact police at 801-256-2211, he said.

Sanders said the case remain his department's "top priority."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865558592/Neighbors-of-slain-6-year-old-still-nervous-West-Jordan-police-remain-tight-lipped.html

‏@BenWinslow
BREAKING NEWS: Transient Terry Lee Black charged with the murder of Sierra Newbold. @fox13now #Utah
4:01 PM - 10 Jul 12

Press conference to discuss murder of Utah girl Sierra Newbold

By nate carlisle, | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published 4 hours ago • Updated 7 minutes ago

Police and prosecutors have scheduled an afternoon press conference to discuss the murder of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold, who was found dead last month in a West Jordan canal.

The announcement did not specify if police have suspects or have made an arrest. The 3 p.m. press conference will be held at the offices of the Salt Lake County District Attorney in downtown Salt Lake City. West Jordan police will be in attendance.

Sierra’s death has been ruled a homicide, and police said the autopsy showed evidence that the girl was sexually assaulted.

Police found Sierra’s body about 8 a.m. on June 26 in a canal about a block from her home.

The discovery occurred about 30 minutes after her mother reported the girl missing from the family’s home near 2400 W. 7100 South. There were no obvious signs of a break-in at the home, police said.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54462742-78/girl-police-west-conference.html.csp

Man charged with murder, rape of Sierra Newbold

Updated: 3:01 pm | Published: 12:55 pm
Written by: Dan Metcalf Jr.
Reported by: Marcos Ortiz


Terry Lee Black

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Prosecutors announced murder charges and child rape against Terry Lee Black in connection with the sexual abuse and murder of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold on Tuesday.

Stay tuned to ABC 4 News and ABC4.com for more on this story.

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Man-charged-with-murder-rape-of-Sierra-Newbold/jbt2POcLgUW__RpA_-6OXg.cspx

The man accused of sexually abusing and killing 6-year-old Sierra
Newbold had a history of drugs and alcohol, but one man who knew him
says he didn’t expect him to be suspected of committing such a crime.
Terry Lee Black, 41, has been arrested and charged with aggravated
murder, child kidnapping and rape of a child, all first-degree felonies,
in connection with the June death of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold.

Eldon Thomas, Black’s former apartment manager, says he’s known Black
since he rented an apartment to him and his family in 2005.

Thomas says that Black wasn’t very sociable and had a tendency to
abuse alcohol. Black’s drinking binges have put a strain on his wife and
two kids, but he says Terry would always return.

“He’s not a very sociable guy. He’s not the type of person that comes
out and mingles with everybody,” said Thomas. ”He drinks and he goes
overboard when he goes on his binges, he’s gone for five or six weeks.
He’s done that quite a bit since he’s been here.”

Black has a criminal history, with arrests for things like car theft
and burglary, and one lewdness charge. Thomas is aware of Black’s past,
but he was shocked that he is now the prime suspect in the kidnapping,
rape and murder of Sierra Newbold.

“Nobody knows how many kids are in this complex let alone how many are in the area. So yeah, I’m really surprised,” said Thomas.

Thomas says he last saw Black on a Sunday, roughly two weeks before
Sierra’s disappearance. He now wonders whether Black went on another
drinking binge prior to allegedly killing Sierra.

“If you got a personality that’s already got mood problems and you
put those together that’s just lighting a bomb. He’s capable of doing
anything at that time,” he said.

Black now sits in the Salt Lake County Jail on $2 million bail.
http://fox13now.com/2012/07/10/former-landlord-black-had-a-history-of-alcohol-abuse/

Weeks after 6-year-old Sierra Newbold was kidnapped, sexually
assaulted and murdered, police announced that they have arrested the may
they believe committed the crime. West Jordan residents are now feeling
a sense of relief that the suspect is in prison, but some say they’re
also angry and heartbroken.
Sierra is remembered as a friendly, outgoing girl. Friends and
neighbors are now expressing anger that 41-year-old Terry Lee Black
allegedly kidnapped, brutally sexually assaulted then killed her.

“She was just outgoing, just that kind of a girl, loved to talk,
loved to be around people and he took that from her, he took that from
her,” said Sonny Jckowski, a neighbor. “How could somebody do something
like that?”

Charging documents describe the signs of sexual abuse, multiple
contusions, strangulation and finally drowning Sierra endured before her
death. Neighbors are now calling for justice for Sierra.

“Hopefully now the justice system does their job and they do it
correctly and they put him away for life, give him the chair, give him
something because she didn’t deserve that; he does now,” said neighbor
Todd Archuleta.

Black now sits in the Salt Lake County Jail on first-degree felony
charges of aggravated murder, child kidnapping and rape of a child. His
bail is set at $2 million.
http://fox13now.com/2012/07/10/community-feeling-sadness-anger-after-blacks-arrest/

For the family of Sierra Newbold, the
arrest of the man who allegedly walked into the Newbolds’ West Jordan
home last month and kidnapped, raped and killed the child has "allowed
at least a small measure of closure."

In a statement released to the media
Wednesday, Brad Newbold, the 6-year-old girl’s father, thanked police
and offered support for the family of Terry Lee Black, who was charged
Tuesday with aggravated murder.
"We offer our sympathy to the Black family
during this sad time since they, too, are grieving a loss," Newbold
wrote. "We want everyone to know we hold no animosity in our hearts
toward Terry Black’s wife and children."

According to charges filed Tuesday in 3rd
District Court, a home surveillance video shows a man entering the
Newbold’s home shortly after 3 a.m. on June 26. The figure walked out
eight minutes later carrying something.

Sierra’s body was found five hours later in a
nearby canal. Police found clothing belonging to the girl — pink pajama
bottoms and her underwear — in a field near the canal, which had been
blackened by a recent fire.

Black, 41, was arrested three days later after
allegedly robbing a West Jordan bank. A detective noticed Black had
black stains on his hands, knees and elsewhere on his clothing that
looked liked they were from the burned field, police said.

After Black’s arrest, a swab from his genitals
was obtained and compared to DNA from Sierra’s body. Examiners at the
Utah State Crime Laboratory subsequently found Sierra’s DNA profile on
the swab taken from Black, according to charges.

"We are still trying to comprehend and
reconcile the newly revealed developments in the case," the Newbolds’
statement read. "We anticipate it will take a very long time to fully
come to terms with what has occurred."

Black, 41, was living with his wife and two
teenage children in an apartment about a half-block from the Newbold’s
home. Neighbors said he had made a few appearances at church events in
the Newbold’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward over the
past year and a half.

"I just can’t believe he’s involved in this,"
said Eldon Thomas, Black’s former landlord who is now a tenant at the
Jordan Village Apartments.

Thomas said he knew Black and his wife and two
children. He said they had moved to Utah from Arizona and lived in the
apartment complex for eight years.

He said Black’s wife found out about the charges when they were announced by police Tuesday.

"She’s still stunned just like the rest of us are," Thomas said.

Thomas said Black had a problem with alcohol and went on binges for "weeks" every few months.

"He liked his alcohol," Thomas said.

"I don’t know if he’s realized what he’s done," Thomas said. "Something inside of his head was not completely there."

"I’m totally devastated. Gloria is just like a
daughter," Thomas said of Black’s wife. "People need to realize that
Gloria and the kids are victims."
Black’s previous criminal history is limited to
misdemeanors. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to vehicle burglary for
breaking into two cars parked at a Midvale TRAX station while he was
drunk. According to court documents, a police officer found him sitting
inside one of the cars; Black allegedly said he broke into the cars to
look for change for a TRAX ticket.

In 2006, he pleaded guilty to attempted forgery and intoxication; a lewdness charge was dismissed.

In the early 1990s in Richfield, he pleaded
guilty to assault on a police officer and paid fines for disorderly
conduct and possessing alcohol as a minor. He also owes $15,200 in child
support payments, according to court records.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54469955-78/black-newbold-thomas-police.html.csp?page=2

Suspect in Utah girl slaying skips court hearing

PAUL FOY, Associated Press
Updated 03:37 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The suspect in the killing of a 6-year-old Utah girl refused to leave his jail cell Thursday and skipped a court appearance.

Terry Lee Black was supposed to appear in 3rd District Court Thursday on unrelated bank robbery and vehicle theft charges.

Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills told Black's lawyer to make certain Black appears Friday on both cases.

Black is being held at Salt Lake County jail on $2 million bond for the June 26 slaying of Sierra Newbold, who was sexually assaulted and killed after being abducted from her bedroom. Her body was found later that morning in a canal near her West Jordan home.

Black was arrested three days later on charges that accuse him of robbing a West Jordan bank using a stolen car.

West Jordan police say that arrest allowed them to link Black to the slaying of Newbold using DNA and other evidence.

Black will plead not guilty in the robbery case, said his lawyer, Ariel Chino. He said Black doesn't have a lawyer in the murder case.

"I don't have any comment on how he's doing or reacting to the charges," Chino said Thursday.

Black is being scrutinized in another Utah child killing. Lewine Tapia told KTVX that her 6-year-old daughter Rosie was abducted, sexually assaulted and thrown into a canal in 1995. She said Salt Lake City police told her they're looking at Black as a possible suspect in her daughter's killing.

Salt Lake City police would only say their investigation is ongoing.

"We're always working on that case," police Det. Carlie Wiechman told The Associated Press on Thursday. "We're looking at any possibility that might come up. We've been working on it for the last 17 years."

Black was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder, kidnapping and rape of a child. He's due to answer those and the bank robbery charges at the same court hearing Friday.

Black, 41, attended the same Mormon church as the Newbold family, authorities have said.

"We offer our sympathy to the Black family during this sad time since they, too, are grieving a loss," Brad Newbold said in a statement released Wednesday. "We want everyone to plainly understand that we hold no animosity in our hearts toward Terry Black's wife and children. We fully recognize that they played no part in this tragedy, and hope that the community and media will be sensitive to their pain and gentle in their treatment of them."

According to a probable cause affidavit, the child's mother last saw Sierra at about 10:30 p.m. the night before her body was found. On the morning of June 26, the woman told police she noticed a sliding glass door in the family's home was open and the girl wasn't in her bed.

Police later examined a home surveillance camera and found it showed a man entering the Newbold home at 3:05 a.m. and leaving eight minutes later carrying something.

Authorities mounted a search that morning and found the girl's pink pajamas and undergarments in a field a short distance away from the home, according to court documents.

Her body was then found floating face down in a nearby canal. An autopsy revealed the girl was sexually assaulted and strangled but the official cause of death was drowning.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Slain-girl-s-suspect-skips-court-3702622.php

Local restaurant to hold fundraiser for Sierra Newbold's family

Updated: 7/23 1:21 pm
Published: 7/23 11:34 am
Written by: Dan Metcalf Jr.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The staff of Carvers Steak & Seafood is having a Fundraiser to assist the Sierra Newbold Family.

The event will be held on Saturday July 28th at 10720 Holiday Park Drive in Sandy from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and will include a garage sale, bake sale and silent auction. All proceeds will go to the Newbold family.

Silent auction items will include gifts from Vivint Alarm Systems, Real Salt Lake (Jersey signed by the team), pre season Jazz tickets, aquarium passes, Home Depot, Lowes, Rod Works, movie theater tickets, local restaurants, hotels, a Wii system, Lakeview Bikes, Canyon Bikes, local gyms and more.

Donations can be dropped off at the restaurant until Thursday July 26th.

For more information go to the Carver's website.

Sierra's body was found in a West Jordan canal in June.

Prosecutors announced murder and child rape charges against Terry Lee Black in connection with the sexual abuse and death of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold on earlier this month.

Black was a neighbor of Sierra and became a suspect while police investigated him for an unrelated car theft and bank robbery case.

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Local-restaurant-to-hold-fundraiser-for-Sierra/BkgKA0vMp0ilMrioXZEntg.cspx