Destiny Anne Norton (November 30, 2000 – July 16, 2006) was a
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
, child who was
kidnap
In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear: the p ...
ped and
murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...
ed by a neighbor in 2006.
Murder
Until her death, Norton lived in
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
. On July 16, 2006, she disappeared from her home. Her body was found fewer than 100 feet from her home in the basement of her neighbor, 20-year-old Craig Roger Gregerson.
She was last seen as she left her home after arguing with her parents about taking a bath. She lived in a small ranch house with her parents, and who shared the house for economic reasons.
Volunteers posted missing posters throughout Salt Lake City, describing her several silver capped teeth on the bottom row of her mouth, blonde hair, green eyes, and dressed in a grey shirt with black stripes.
Investigation
After a massive eight-day search by about 5,000 community volunteers, FBI and police, Destiny's body was found on July 24, 2006, less than 100 feet from her home in the basement of her neighbor, 20-year-old Craig Roger Gregerson. Family and friends were initially outraged after the search ended, and accused authorities of mishandling the investigation. An apology on behalf of the family and friends was later issued in a press conference.
Aftermath
Gregerson was formally charged on July 27, 2006, with kidnapping and aggravated murder. He waived his rights to a
speedy trial
In criminal law, the right to a speedy trial is a human right under which it is asserted that a government prosecutor may not delay the trial of a criminal suspect arbitrarily and indefinitely. Otherwise, the power to impose such delays would eff ...
, and later waived his rights to a preliminary hearing which had originally been scheduled for October 3 and 4, 2006. In a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty, he pleaded guilty to capital murder and child kidnapping on December 4, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder, and fifteen years to life for the kidnapping. The sentences will be served consecutively.
The Destiny Search Project was formed in 2007, was incorporated as a non-profit in 2008, and operated for several years; its website went offline sometime in 2019. In Utah, operations included searches for Camille Cleverley, Hser Ner Moo,
Susan Powell and others.
See also
*
List of solved missing person cases
Lists of solved missing person cases include:
* List of solved missing person cases: pre-2000
* List of solved missing person cases: post-2000
See also
* List of kidnappings
* List of murder convictions without a body
* List of people who dis ...
References
External links
Warrant: Gregerson Planned Destiny’s Kidnapping
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Destiny Murder of
2006 in Utah
2006 murders in the United States
Deaths by person in Utah
Formerly missing people
History of women in Utah
Incidents of violence against girls
July 2006 crimes
July 2006 events in the United States
Kidnappings in the United States
Missing person cases in Utah
Violence against women in the United States
2000s in Salt Lake City