WEST VALLEY CITY -- Lisa Redmond's life came to a mysterious, screeching halt in December 1996.
The 36-year-old mother and pizza-delivery woman was found murdered, run over by her own pickup truck, in a West Valley neighborhood. Police, who found the pickup in a church parking lot, have never solved the crime.Police announced last week that they are increasing the reward money being offered for information that might lead to an arrest in the case. Pizza Hut, Redmond's employer, has upped its initial $5,000 reward to $10,000, West Valley detective Anita Monson said.
"I think it's a good incentive," she said. "We really feel that whoever has done this may have had help afterward, and we think, we're hoping that (the killer) has said something to someone."
Interest in the case has surged again during the past year after Redmond's husband, James E. Redmond Jr., was killed in a Colorado traffic accident near Fort Collins in June 1999. The couple's two children, Megan, 11, and Nathan, 9, are now living with James Redmond's parents in Colorado, Monson said.
Monson contacted Pizza Hut and asked them if they would be willing to increase the reward money.
"Even three years later, (Pizza Hut) wants this case resolved," she said.
Lisa Redmond had been working for Pizza Hut just three months when she was killed. She was last seen Dec. 9, 1996, leaving the restaurant, 3390 S. 5600 West, about 9:45 p.m., to make her last delivery of the night. But within 10 minutes, she was killed, police say. Her body was found run over at 5420 West and 3100 South, a location nowhere near her intended delivery location. Redmond's pickup was found later in the parking lot of a church.
"We've had some leads, but most of them have dead ended," Monson said. "We have good evidence if we can find a suspect."
Monson said she is in the process of reviewing evidence and witness statements and is considering asking if FBI investigators will give the case a look. She said she knows of no other similar cases in the valley or elsewhere in Utah.
Anyone with information about Lisa Redmond's killing should contact West Valley police through their dispatch office, 265-4056. Tipsters may remain anonymous, Monson said.