18-year-old man allegedly uses cellphone to record teen girl’s death in Utah campground

Stock image | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a 16-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree in a Utah campground. Officials said the man recorded the girl’s death on a cellphone.

Tyerell Joe Przybycien, of Spanish Fork, Utah, booking photo posted May 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Just after 7 a.m. Saturday, Utah County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of a body hanging in a tree near Maple Lake Campground in Payson Canyon, according to a statement issued Monday by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived on scene and found a 16-year-old Spanish Fork girl who had died and was still hanging from a tree.

“While still on scene, investigators were approached by an 18-year-old Spanish Fork man who said he knew this girl and had been with her when she died,” Sgt. Spencer Cannon said in a statement.

Upon further investigation, detectives learned that the 18-year-old, identified as Tyerell Joe Przybycien, had purchased several items used to facilitate the girl’s death, the statement said.

“Other evidence at the scene included a cellphone recording made by Przybycien of the 16-year-old girl as she died,” Cannon stated.

Based on Przybycien’s actions, along with evidence collected, officials determined Przybycien played an active role in the death of the girl.

Przybycien was subsequently arrested and booked in to the Utah County Jail. Bail for his release pending trial stands at $20,000 cash-only.

The investigation into the teen’s death is ongoing, officials said Monday.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

 

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5 Comments

  • knobe May 8, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    He approached police & said he was with her when she died & he filmed ?
    Well that is quite different !
    Now I’m thinking assisted suicide ?

  • comments May 8, 2017 at 8:45 pm

    would an 18yr old and 16yr old be considered ‘millennials’ still?

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic May 9, 2017 at 6:34 am

      Generational definitions with attributed birth years vary, comments. The Center for Generational Kinetics, in its work, defines and breaks down the generations. It places millennials as those born 1975-1995. The Center emphasizes the significance of 9/11 and states that if a person does not remember 9/11 then they are not a millennial. In short, it writes:
      “The end of the Millennial generation and the start of Gen Z in the United States are closely tied to September 11, 2001. That day marks the number-one generation-defining moment for Millennials. Members of Gen Z—born in 1996 and after—cannot process the significance of 9/11 and it’s always been a part of history for them.”
      Hope that helps and follow the links I’ve included to learn more – again, these present one viewpoint among many.

      ST. GEORGE NEWS
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

      • comments May 9, 2017 at 9:48 am

        Interesting to know. thanks ))

  • desertgirl May 9, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Born after 1996 and they cannot process the significance of 9/11. Pathetic. As a 1960’s youngster I could process the significance of Pearl Harbor and Hitler. What is happening to our youth and citizens is disturbing.

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