LOCAL NEWS

Man Arrested In Connection To Sandy Woman’s Death

Jul 5, 2021, 12:41 PM | Updated: Jul 6, 2021, 2:38 pm

SANDY, Utah — A 75-year-old man has been arrested after the body of a missing Sandy woman was found late Sunday night.

Police said they are calling Masako Kenley’s death a homicide and William O’Reilly, an acquaintance of Kenley’s, has been arrested.

“Mr. O’Reilly was an acquaintance of Masako, so we do want to put the community at ease that this was not a random abduction or anything of that nature,” said Lt. Dean Carriger with the Sandy Police Department. “There’s no danger to the public at this point. These are two individuals that did know each other.”

O’Reilly was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on felony charges of aggravated murder, desecration of a corpse and obstruction of justice.

Kenley was reported missing over the weekend after she failed to meet up with friends for dinner on Friday.

Family friend Adam Clayton said they tracked down surveillance footage showing Kenley’s van arriving at the Sandy Costco at 8:18 a.m. on Saturday.

“But they couldn’t see who got out of the car, so we don’t know if it was dumped there or if she parked it there,” Clayton said. “We really don’t know details.”

Hundreds of volunteers began searching for Kenley, along with family members, on Sunday.

Police said her body was located by cadaver dogs in a ditch in a secluded area of phragmites and tall grasses along the Jordan River near 8900 South and 700 West Sunday night.

According to a probable cause statement released Tuesday, data from Kenley’s cell phone led authorities to the area. Police obtained surveillance video from a local business that showed Kenley’s van pulling into the area Friday afternoon, then leaving 20 minutes later.

Authorities said they identified a gunshot wound to Kenley’s chest and an official cause of death will be established through an autopsy at a later time.

During their investigation, detectives said they determined Kenley and O’Reilly were together during the afternoon hours on Friday, July 2.

According to the probable cause statement, O’Reilly told police he turned Kenley’s phone off near the area where her body was found.

Detectives said O’Reilly “also told investigators he and Masako had been in the Salt Lake area, several miles to the north and miles from where the body had been located,” and cell phone data “showed this was false and contrary to where the phones had actually been.”

Police said O’Reilly removed a tracking device from Kenley’s van and hid it in his personal vehicle, along with one of her shoes and purse.

Kenley’s husband issued a statement Monday, saying, “I want to express my deep gratitude to the police and to the countless volunteers for their help in finding Masako. We are overwhelmed at the number of people who have helped us during this difficult time. Your prayers and support have meant the world to my family and me. Losing Masako is devastating, but we feel blessed to have had her in our lives for as long as we did. We will never forget your kindness, generosity, and love.”

A GoFundMe* account has been established for the family here.


*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

5 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

5 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

6 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

8 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

8 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Man Arrested In Connection To Sandy Woman’s Death