The Death Penalty Has These Families of Murder Victims Divided

Synopsis

For three months, families search these hills in Eureka, Utah, for missing teenagers Breezy Ottenson and Riley Powell. In December 2018, Bill Powell and Amanda Hunt begin their desperate search, believing the teens were murdered. Their bodies are eventually discovered in a mine shaft, having been stabbed and thrown 100 feet down. Police charge Jared Baum, who has a long criminal history, with the murders, claiming he acted in a jealous rage after the teens visited his girlfriend. The case ignites a debate over the death penalty in Utah, as the families express their desire for capital punishment. Initially, state prosecutors seek the death penalty, but in September, the county attorney reconsiders, stating the costs outweigh the benefits to the community. This decision leaves the families feeling betrayed, as they believe the prosecutor should represent their wishes in seeking justice for the brutal crime committed against their loved ones. The trial is set to begin early next year, with Baum pleading not guilty.