Detectives are looking at a possible link between the bludgeoning death near Midway of a 17-year-old Salt Lake prostitute and the slaying of another prostitute last month.
But at least one detective doesn't see much of a connection."There's not much similarity so far," said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Sam Hemmingway. "Other than they might have worked (as prostitutes) in the same area."
The nude body of Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch was found Saturday by two ranchers along an isolated county road two miles north of Midway. She died from numerous blows to the head with a rock, said Wasatch County sheriff's deputy Ken VanWagoner.
"It was as bad as I've ever seen," he said.
Beslanowitch had moved to Salt Lake City from Spokane, Wash., with her boyfriend in July. She was last seen Friday about 2 a.m. when she told her boyfriend she was going to a nearby convenience store. She never returned.
Her boyfriend heard reports about a dead body being found in Wastach County, and called Salt Lake police Sunday to report her missing, Hemmingway said.
"He heard about someone being murdered and got concerned," Hemmingway said.
Wasatch County Sheriff Mike Spanos said the boyfriend was interviewed by detectives, but no arrests have been made.
Interviews with Beslanowitch's friends revealed she'd been working as a prostitute in Salt Lake City, said VanWagoner. Spanos said he is soliciting information from other law enforcement agencies about any similar assaults in their jurisdictions.
"We want to make sure we cover all of our bases in case this is a serial-type thing," the sheriff said.
Hemingway said the partially nude body of 33-year-old Melissa Griggs was found in a car near 700 West on 200 North Nov. 23. She had been killed, but Hemingway said detectives were not releasing the cause of death.
He said investigators aren't sure that the two women even knew each other despite working in the same area.