(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Douglas Lovell at an evidentiary hearing in Ogden on Monday Aug. 5, 2019. A jury in 2015 sentenced Douglas Lovell to be executed for killing 39-year-old Joyce Yost in 1985. Lovell has been appealing the decision.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Douglas Lovell is escorted into the courtroom in Ogden for an evidentiary hearing on Monday Aug. 5, 2019. A jury in 2015 sentenced Douglas Lovell to be executed for killing 39-year-old Joyce Yost in 1985. Lovell has been appealing the decision.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Russell Minas testitfies at an evidentiary hearing for Douglas Lovell in Ogden on Monday Aug. 5, 2019. A jury in 2015 sentenced Douglas Lovell to be executed for killing 39-year-old Joyce Yost in 1985. Lovell has been appealing the decision.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Douglas Lovell at an evidentiary hearing in Ogden on Monday Aug. 5, 2019. A jury in 2015 sentenced Douglas Lovell to be executed for killing 39-year-old Joyce Yost in 1985. Lovell has been appealing the decision.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune FBI forensic accountant Heidi Ransdell on the witness stand at the John Swallow public-corruption trial in Salt Lake City, Tuesday February 21, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Juan Andres Zalazar looks down during his sentencing in Salt Lake City, Tuesday April 26, 2016. Zalazar pleaded guilty in February to first-degree felony aggravated robbery and second-degree felony manslaughter for his part in the March 18, 2015, shooting death of 62-year-old David Marsh, a clerk at the Lee Mart store, 5905 S. 700 West, Murray, during a robbery,
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan arrives at court in Salt Lake City Tuesday July 7, 2015, for a hearing involving the United Effort Plan (UEP) and Twin City Water Works, a utility accused of being a slush fund for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ. The UEP wants a judge to appoint a receiver to take over management of the water utility in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona.Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan arrives at court in Salt Lake City Tuesday July 7, 2015, for a hearing involving the United Effort Plan (UEP) and Twin City Water Works, a utility accused of being a slush fund for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ. The UEP wants a judge to appoint a receiver to take over management of the water utility in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Phil Lyman, right, leaves court after closing arguments as the Recapture Canyon case goes to the jury in Salt Lake City, Friday May 1, 2015.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan stands behind his attorney Greg Skordas (in red tie) during his appearance in the Taylorsville court room, Thursday October 9, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan, the United Effort Plan trust administrator, Attorney Jeff Shields and Assistant Attorney General David Wolf wait for a hearing to begin in Elissa Wall’s “MJ” lawsuit against Warren Jeffs and the UEP trust in Salt Lake City, Wednesday May 21, 2014. Judge Keith Kelly heard a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in the hearing.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan, the United Effort Plan trust administrator, waits for a hearing to begin in Elissa Wall’s “MJ” lawsuit against Warren Jeffs and the UEP trust in Salt Lake City, Wednesday May 21, 2014. Judge Keith Kelly heard a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in the hearing.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Esar met listens during his murder trial in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
You know horsey rides, right? Where you get down on all fours and a child climbs on your back and you gallop and buck and horse around? I guess people in other countries do it, too. That’s what the defense attorney said as he asked the members of the jury to keep their minds open about Esar Met’s guilt or innocence.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Defense attorney Michael Peterson brings out a world map during the defense’s opening at the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008.
People from Southeast Asia, like the Burmese refugee kids at the South Park apartment complex, call horsey rides elephant rides. Esar Met would give them elephant rides and the attorney told the jury that that might explain why 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo’s blood was found on Met’s denim jacket when he was arrested for her murder. His DNA was under her fingernails as well.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A display shown by the defense at the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A photo showing four residents of the apartment where Hser Ner Noo was found, displayed during the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008. Ku Nu, Maung Myo Mye, Po Dee, Myint Kyi
Then the prosecution started to show the crime scene photos. Nothing really explains how one of Hser Ner Moo’s tiny purple shoes landed in that filthy toilet in the basement, the other shoe falling behind and beneath the porcelain. Or why the little girl ended up murdered, face down in the shower.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A photo showing the front of the apartment where Hser Ner Noo was found, displayed during the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A photo showing the stairs leading to the basement of the apartment where Hser Ner Noo was found, displayed during the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A photo showing blood on the floor the basement of the apartment where Hser Ner Noo was found, displayed during the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A photo showing blood in the basement of the apartment where Hser Ner Noo was found, displayed during the murder trial of Esar Met in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 7, 2014. Met is accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo in 2008
I photographed some of the evidence photos shown during the trial. The ones I didn’t photograph, the ones too disturbing to show, will be burned in my mind for a long time. They were pretty horrifying, just as we had been warned.
I photographed Hser Ner Moo’s father, Cartoon Wah, while the search for the missing child was still underway at the South Park apartments. You can read about that here: https://trent.photo/2008/04/01/hser-goes-missing/.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Joshua Petersen sits alone in the jury box before pleading guilty to shooting his baby to Judge Darold McDade Tuesday, September 10, 2013 in 4th District Court in Provo.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Margaret Cooke and Jethro Barlow listen during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Attorney Jeffrey Shields speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Don Barlow speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Don Barlow prepares to speak during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Joanna Jessop listens while holding an infant during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Guy Timpson speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Attorney Roger Hoole speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune A court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust was held in Judge Denise Lindberg’s courtroom Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Leroy Stubbs speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Assistant Attorney General David Wolf speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Guy Timpson speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune William E. Jessop listens during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City. At right is Richard Holm.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Attorney Jeffrey Shields during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City. Lee Steed, Jim Dalrymple II, Val Oveson
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop speaks during a court hearing on the polygamous UEP land trust, Friday April 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Bruce Wisan at a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop, Rod Parker, at a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop and Lee Steed at a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop and Sam Steed at a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop and Bruce Wisan speak after a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Willie Jessop after a court hearing concerning Utah’s management of the United Effort Plan Friday, February 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City. At rear left is attorney Mark Callister.