Two charged in connection to mysterious death of Millcreek woman

MILLCREEK, Utah — Authorities said two people have been charged with murder in connection to the death of Linda Nemelka, who was found shot to death in her car in March 2020.

According to court documents, James Dekota Brunson has been charged in 3rd District Court with murder, aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Another individual, Anika Thorpe, was listed as a co-defendant.

On March 11, Nemelka had dinner at a friend’s home on Red Sage Court in Millcreek, walked back to her car to leave and was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of her car.

Police said paramedics located two gunshot wounds and Nemelka was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

A 9mm bullet casing was recovered from the scene and officials said they determined, during an autopsy, that Nemelka was shot in the back.

Witnesses also told police they saw a red SUV flee the scene after hearing a single gunshot on March 11, 2020.

Family members said they believe their mother’s case was overshadowed since the shooting happened during the week pandemic shutdowns made national headlines.

Millcreek family seeks answers in mysterious death of mother

“We do believe that if things weren’t so crazy she would have gotten more coverage and maybe that could have led to answers,” daughter Jessica Beneventi said. “She really does deserve more than silence — she deserves answers.”

Authorities said an informant then contacted police on Feb. 9, 2021, saying he had information concerning Nemelka’s death.

According to court documents, the informant told officers Brunson and Thorpe were staying with him at his apartment and Brunson gave him money for drugs the evening Nemelka was shot.

The informant told police Brunson said he was running late and the informant should look for news about the shooting in Millcreek.

“Brunson stated that he and Thorpe were ‘hitting a lick’ and it went bad,” police said. Hitting a lick is slang for getting money quickly, such as in a robbery.

The informant told police Thorpe and Brunson were driving a red Toyota Sequoia. Officers determine a vehicle matching that description had been stolen in American Fork three days before Nemelka was shot, and Thorpe’s mother reported the two had come to her Orem house in the Sequoia before they stole seven firearms and ammunition.

Officers with the Orem Police Department and Utah County Major Crimes Task Force said they found Brunson and Thorpe with the Sequoia in West Jordan the day after Nemelka was killed.

As Brunson attempted to run, police said he threw a 9mm pistol from his waistband before he was tackled and arrested.

In the charges, officers said they located several firearms in the vehicle that belonged to Thorpe’s mother.

Police later obtained a search warrant for Brunson’s Facebook messages and said he told someone he had 10 guns the day before Nemelka was shot.

The following day, police said Brunson messaged the same person saying the gun was “burnt” — slang for saying it was used in a crime.

Forensic teams determined the 9mm casing that was recovered from Nemelka’s car was fired from the 9mm gun recovered by officers in West Jordan, and police said DNA matches for both Thorpe and Brunson were found on the gun.

Brunson has been in custody since being arrested on March 12, 2020, in West Jordan.

Police said both Brunson and Thorpe have “substantial criminal histories” and were both on parole when Nemelka was shot.