Wasatch County 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 Salt Lake City detective doesn't see much of a connection.
"There's not much similarity so far," said 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 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," Hem-mingway said.
The boyfriend had photos of the girl, which led police to identify her. Wasatch County Sheriff Mike Spanos said the boyfriend was interviewed by detectives, but no arrests have been made.
Hemmingway said Salt Lake police are not releasing the missing persons report filed by her boyfriend because "it contains some details that probably should be restricted."
Interviews with Beslanowitch's friends revealed she'd been working as a prostitute in Salt Lake City, said VanWagoner. Investigators don't know if her death is related to the deaths of other pros-titutes working the same area on west North Temple, but Wasatch County investigators are looking into that.
Spanos said he is also 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.
Hemmingway, a Salt Lake homicide detective, 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 is believed to be a homicide victim, but Hemmingway said detectives are not releasing the cause of death.
He said investigators aren't sure if the women knew each other despite a shared profession and working in the same general area. Griggs also used the surname Ross, he said.