Eureka teens found in mine shaft remembered during funeral service
Apr 7, 2018, 4:45 PM | Updated: 8:46 pm
EUREKA, JUAB COUNTY – In the end, it’s always the little things you remember.
Like, eating cake in a cup with milk.
“When you’re looking back, that’s what you think about the most. The little quirks, the little mannerisms,” said Amanda Hunt.
It’s all those little quirks Hunt says she’s going to miss about her niece, 18-year old Brelynne “Breezy” Otteson.
Otteson and her boyfriend, 18-year old Riley Powell, were remembered during their funeral service at Tintic High School in Eureka Saturday morning.
Hundreds came into the school gymnasium to say goodbye and to hear stories about how they lived.
“Their last moments were together. We wanted to memorialize them together,” said Hunt.
Their bodies were found last week in a mine shaft near town.
It marked the end of a nearly three month search for them after they didn’t come home in December.
“A lot of people say we have closure because of that, but I don’t feel closure yet,” said Bill Powell.
Powell is Riley’s father and said he wants justice against the man accused of killing them.
That man, Jerrod Baum, has been charged with their murders.
He made his first court appearance earlier this week, the beginning of what both families hope isn’t a long trial.
“This has been, by far, I think the worst for our family,” said one family member from the podium during the funeral service.
However, instead of focusing on what happened on their last day, friends and families focused on all the days before.
“I wanted the kids to be remembered. And a lot of people are going to remember them,” said Powell.
Riley was remembered as a guy who would help anyone and who loved to BBQ and race as well as fix his mother’s car.
Breezy was remembered as a sweet girl who loved dancing, laughing, and spending time with friends.
Together, they were happy.
“It was awesome to see everybody come together and be able to talk on behalf of all of them,” said Hunt.
There is a second memorial service for the Powell and Otteson.
It is scheduled for April 14th, 11am, at the LDS Church on 180 S. Coleman Street in Tooele.
