Neighbors of teen killed in her home are stunned
May 8, 2018, 6:08 PM | Updated: 9:52 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Neighbors of Baleigh Bagshaw were stunned and saddened to hear that the friendly, happy girl who lived on their street had been killed.
People in the neighborhood cannot understand why anybody would want to hurt the 15-year-old girl.
Crime scene investigators continued collecting evidence at the home on 800 South near Redwood Road Tuesday as neighbors learned more about what had happened to the smiling girl who walked to school every day.
“We’re not used to this kind of stuff,” said Paul Bouck, who was born and raised in the neighborhood. He said, his grandfather built many of the homes in the neighborhood, including the one where Baleigh lived. Bouch’s known the Bagshaw family for decades.
“She was a real sweet little girl,” said Bouck.
He found out Baleigh had been brutally attacked and killed not long after all of the police officers showed up and blocked off the neighborhood Monday afternoon.
He often saw her on the way to school with friends and siblings.
“They always said, ‘Hello Brother Bouck. How are you doing?’ Then when they got older we didn’t see them quite as much,” he said.
“It’s hard for me,” said Maria Jensen, who was very upset about the murder. She found out about Baleigh’s death Monday night after returning home from a trip out of town.
“She’s a good girl,” said Jensen. “A beautiful girl. A smart girl. A good student.”
She says Baleigh was always eager to practice Spanish with her.
“She would smile at me and say, ‘Hi Maria. Hola Maria!’ She would try to speak Spanish with me.”
“I’m feeling sad because she’s young,” said Jensen. “She’s 15 years old.”
Bouck tells me the family will get plenty of support from neighbors in the days ahead.
“It’s terrible. It’s a terrible thing,” he said. “I can’t even imagine what her folks are going through.”
Bailey was a student at West High School and involved in theater. The school district had crisis counselors on hand Tuesday for any students who needed support.