Woman arrested for alleged carjacking at Bridal Veil Falls

PROVO — A 35-year-old woman was arrested early Saturday morning after she allegedly stole a pickup truck at gunpoint at Bridal Veil Falls.

According to a news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified of the incident around 2 a.m. The release further states that Heather Leann Murray, 35, of Heber City, approached the truck and allegedly pointed a gun at four individuals inside the vehicle, and told them to get out.

The occupants exited the vehicle and ran to some nearby bushes where they called 911.

Sgt. Spencer Cannon told KSL TV that the four occupants inside the vehicle were students at Brigham Young University.

“For some reason, she parked up (Highway 189), then hiked down, and it seems like it was likely very random that she came across them and chose them to victimize,” Cannon said. 

When deputies arrived on scene, they ordered Murray out of the vehicle. but she refused. When additional deputies arrived on scene, Murray turned the truck around facing the deputies. After deputies backed away from the vehicle, she drove roughly 100 yards east of the Bridal Veil Falls parking lot, where she stopped on the side of the road.

Deputies gave her additional orders to exit the vehicle. However, she refused and allegedly drove the vehicle into and across the Provo River where it got stuck.

Murray then got out and ran south toward the Provo River Parkway Trail.

Officers from Orem, Provo and Lehi police departments, along with troopers from the Utah Highway Patrol joined in the search for Murray.

Eventually, Murray was safely taken into custody near the location of the original threat.

In their investigation, police found a “realistic looking BB gun” in the truck that was stolen. Police also discovered cocaine and drug paraphernalia in a car rented by Murray.

“We suspect that she was under the influence of drugs. It’s possible she may have some mental health challenges on board as well, but, whatever the situation, it was pretty, pretty nervous for a while there until they got her under control,” Cannon said. 

Murray was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of the following:

• Aggravated robbery, first-degree felony
• Theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree felony
• Property damage greater than $5,000, second-degree felony
• Property damage greater than $5,000, second-degree felony
• Aggravated assault four counts, third-degree felony
• Possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, third-degree felony
• Fail to stop at command of law enforcement, class A misdemeanor
• Possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanor
• DUI-metabolite, class B misdemeanor
• Possession of drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanor

A judge has ordered that Murray be held without bail, according to the release.

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Brianna Chavez contributed to this article.