A community near Provo, Utah has been left stunned by a tragedy as six children are left without parents following a murder-suicide.
American Fork police confirmed that 57-year-old businessman Olin Johnson fatally shot his wife, 52-year-old Kerilyn Johnson before turning the gun on himself. Police arrived to find the couple already dead after a relative had discovered them in the home, according to KSL.com.
“Based on the investigation, it appears that Olin fatally shot Kerilyn before fatally shooting himself,” American Fork police said in a statement.
The deaths followed what some saw as an odd post on Facebook where the husband and father of six had written about his love of motorcycles and “how crappy a person I am.”
(Video Credit: KSL)
“No matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too,” Johnson wrote June 18 on Facebook on a page that is now private, according to 2KUTV.
American Fork Police Lt. Stuart Fore said that there were no signs of struggle before the shootings.
“We’re not real sure what led up to it, but he shot her twice and then shot himself, ending his life,” he said.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the six children, who range in age from teenagers to adults.
“With the sudden passing of Olin and Kerilyn Lowe Johnson many are devastated and desire to show love and support to their six children as they navigate this tragedy,” the page reads. “It is hoped that [the children] would not need to shoulder the financial burden of paying for funeral expenses and other unexpected costs over the coming weeks and months.”
“The love many have for this family is immense,” wrote the organizer of the fundraiser which has so far raised over $77,000.
“Investigators are waiting for final testing from the Utah (Office) of the Medical Examiner before a final disposition will be applied to the case,” police said of the murder-suicide, though a motive has not yet been disclosed.
According to Johnson’s LinkedIn profile, he owned Simtek Modular, LLC, which erects structures for law enforcement training. His wife was a well-known singer, performer, and voice teacher at her alma mater, Brigham Young University.
Gayle Lockwood, a retired BYU voice teacher who taught Kerilyn as a student, remembered her as “a light” to be missed.
“Kerilyn was literally one of the most generous, kind, supportive people that I have ever known,” she said, according to 2KUTV. “She is a light that will be missed in the world.”
The community held a vigil to show support for the family and remember the couple.
“Tonight, we just want them to feel how many people love them and are rooting for their success and are grieving with them. They are not alone,” Melanie Cartwright, who helped organize the vigil, told Fox 13.
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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