Family Confirms Body Found in Juab County Is Missing Sandy Woman

JUAB COUNTY, Utah – The brother of a missing Sandy woman posted a Facebook message confirming the body found Saturday in Juab County was that of his sister.

Jan Pearson-Jenkins, 64, went camping with a man named Cody Young last Friday, according to family members. Late that night, Pearson-Jenkins’ brother said Young sent him a message saying the two had gotten into an argument.

“It was a 55-page text message. Basically, talked about the woes of the world and how he’d been dealt a bad hand in life and that he was sick and tired of Jan berating him. They’d had a fight and he told her to leave his van,” Jace Pearson said. “His text said that I needed to come pick my sister up immediately. This was at 11 p.m. on Friday night. I didn’t receive the text until Saturday morning.”

Pearson said he checked with his mother Saturday and she told him Pearson-Jenkins had checked in and was still camping. He said that turned out to be a miscommunication.

“We found out a couple of days later, when Cody called my mother asking if he could talk to Jan, my mother replied, ‘I thought she was with you. What’s going on?’,” Pearson said.

Authorities searched for Pearson-Jenkins in the area where they believed the two were camping, but could not find her.

They said they also tried to get in touch with Young, but said they could not reach him. Pearson-Jenkins sister-in-law, Dana Pearson, said they sent Young messages urging him to give them information.

“I feel bad for Jan. I feel bad for Cody. If he’s telling us the truth, then call the detectives and come talk to them. Meanwhile, Jan’s been missing for a week,” she said.

Saturday morning, members of the Juab County Sheriff’s Office and friends and family gathered for a large search of the area. Undersheriff Brent Pulver said they found the campsite the pair had used. About a mile from there, Pulver said, they found a woman’s body. Pulver said he could not discuss the condition of the body.

“It’s kind of a sad thing, but it ultimately was a family member that came across the body. Hopefully the family will have some peace of mind and we’ll come to a resolution,” Pulver said.

Pulver said they couldn’t confirm the body is that of Pearson-Jenkins, but based on the circumstances, they believe it is her. The state medical examiner’s office will work to verify her identity.

Hours after the discovery, Pulver said investigators took a male person of interest into custody for questioning. They would not say who the man was, but said they found him at Yuba Reservoir, about 45 miles south of the campsite.

Pulver said further information could come late Saturday evening.