A Utah man is facing murder charges after police discovered the body of his girlfriend in the back of his car parked at a 7-Eleven in Bluffdale, Utah. Jacob Johnson, 40, was arrested on December 31 and charged with one count of murder, according to court documents reviewed.
Officers from the Herriman Police Department were called to assist Saratoga Springs Police just after midnight on Dec. 31. Authorities responded to a DUI investigation involving a car parked at a 7-Eleven on South Redwood Road, about 25 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Police found the victim, identified by family as Summer Tatiana Roney, in the backseat of the vehicle. According to a probable cause affidavit, she had “significant injuries and trauma consistent with a homicide.” Johnson, who was driving the vehicle, was detained on the scene and later taken to Saratoga Springs Police for questioning.
During a post-Miranda interview, Johnson admitted to inflicting some of the injuries on Roney. He described their relationship as intimate and confirmed they had been living together in Herriman.
Police noted Johnson admitted they had argued before her death, saying their relationship was “over.” He also revealed that he placed her in the vehicle but declined to provide further details about the physical trauma she sustained.
An attorney representing Roney’s family described her as “a vibrant, kind, and loving soul” whose life was tragically cut short. In a statement provided to Salt Lake City’s KSTU, the family shared their grief:
“Summer 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.”
Johnson appeared in court on Thursday, where a judge found substantial evidence to support the murder charge. He was ordered to remain in custody at the Salt Lake County Jail without bond.
Authorities cited Johnson’s “defiant attitude” and extensive criminal history, including convictions for felony theft, burglary, aggravated robbery, and DUI, in their request for a higher-than-usual bond.
The investigation continues as the family and community mourn the tragic loss of Summer Tatiana Roney.
