Jacob Holt Johnson has been convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, according to an October 22 announcement from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. As part of a plea deal, Johnson agreed to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On December 31, 2024, Bluffdale police found Johnson unconscious in a white Jeep at a gas station. An assisting officer discovered the victim, Summer Tatiana Roney, in a cardboard box in the trunk of the vehicle. According to the District Attorney's office, Roney was unresponsive and had an extension cord around her neck, along with bruises and lacerations on her head, arms, and legs.
During the investigation, detectives located several items in the vehicle, including a bloody hammer, a hatchet, a knife, a gas can, and a bottle of bleach. Investigators determined the crime occurred in Herriman. A subsequent search of Johnson's home revealed blood throughout the residence and evidence that an attempt had been made to clean the crime scene, including a bat on the kitchen floor with smudge marks.
Multiple acquaintances of Roney informed police that she had previously reported verbal and physical abuse by Johnson. On Thursday, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder, which is a first-degree felony.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill stated that the office appreciates the victim's family for working with the office throughout the process. Gill also expressed gratitude to the prosecutors, a social worker, and Herriman Police Department detectives for their work on the investigation.
Summer Tatiana Roney was 30 years old at the time of the incident.
