MILLCREEK, Utah, Aug. 2, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Police have announced an arrest in the July 27 fatal hit and run in Millcreek.
The Unified Police Department said 20-year-old Lindsey VanOrman, of Salt Lake City, was the deceased. At about 5:56 a.m. the morning of July 27, she had left her vehicle to render aid to a cat in the roadway at 3051 S. 2300 East. She may not have been aware the cat had died. She was struck by another vehicle, and died that night from her injuries.
Police Friday said Jonathan Barrus Lyman, 39, was arrested Thursday night, two days after the suspect vehicle was found in Murray.
Lyman was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail early Friday morning on suspicion of failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving injury or death, a third-degree felony; and lesser counts of failure to avoid a pedestrian, failure to yield to a pedestrian’s right of way, failure comply with vehicle accident duties, and obstruction of justice. He also faces a charge of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person pursuant to a rifle found during searches pursuant to the investigation.
It is not clear if Lyman was driving, or was a passenger, at the time of the crash, Unified Police Department Sgt. Aymee Race, public information officer, said at a Friday evening press conference.
The trail led to Lyman after two of his friends told police he had been using the 2017 Nissan Titan believed involved in the hit and run since mid-July, according to the probable cause statement. Police believe it’s the same vehicle captured on a number of surveillance videos in the Millcreek neighborhood the morning of the deadly incident.
Police said the Nissan was found Tuesday at 4460 S. Fairbourne Drive in Murray. It had significant front-end damage, which had been cleaned, and its camper shell removed.
A witness contacted police Thursday to say the Nissan had been in their neighborhood, address not specified, according to charging documents, at a neighbor’s work site where Lyman was part of a crew.
Police took Lyman into custody at the work site and he was placed under arrest after questioning by 5:44 p.m. Thursday, according to court documents. He was ordered held without bail Friday morning.
In asking that Lyman be held without bail, police said he was homeless and had admitted to being addicted to methamphetamine after using it regularly for 15 years. Lyman “is homeless and has already shown he has fled the original scene and attempted to alter or destroy evidence of the crime.”
