HOLLADAY — A Holladay woman turned herself in to police Friday in Farmington, N.M., a little more than 12 hours after police say she shot and killed her husband after an argument in their home.
Becky L. Peacock, 51, was being interviewed Friday night by detectives from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office who were dispatched to New Mexico, homicide Sgt. Keith Stephens said. Police had been looking for the woman since about 1 a.m. Friday when her husband, Michael V. Peacock, 52, was found dead in the couple's kitchen by a family friend. Prosecutors charged Becky Peacock with murder late Friday afternoon, according to documents filed in 3rd District Court. Court documents state that the woman called her mother some time Friday and told her that she had shot her husband.
Julie Hardy, a family friend who was staying with the couple, dialed 911 after discovering Michael Peacock suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest at about 12:45 a.m. Friday, Stephens said. Dispatchers instructed the woman in CPR, but the man died at the scene.
Police found a revolver a few feet from Michael Peacock's body. The Utah Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy. Detectives did not say if the man suffered single or multiple gunshot wounds.
Hardy told detectives that she and the Peacocks had dined together earlier in the evening, after which she went to the basement to use the couple's sauna. When she returned to the upstairs, Michael Peacock was on the floor and Becky Peacock had left the residence in her car, Hardy said. Court documents indicate that Hardy had heard the couple arguing, but she also told police she did not hear gunfire.
None of the couple's neighbors in the Holladay condominium complex, 2227 E. Lincoln Court (4880 South), appear to have heard anything unusual either.
Three people, including a woman whose home has a shared wall with the Peacocks, said they didn't know anything had happened until Friday morning. The Peacocks have been residents of the complex for almost two years, neighbors said.
The news of the shooting — and later of Becky Peacock's arrest and murder charges — were upsetting, said one woman who did not want her name published.
"She is one nice lady," the neighbor said, adding that she and Becky Peacock had recently begun to develop a friendship. "She was over here a couple of days ago, and she was so happy because (her husband) had gone to church with her on Easter. She was so glad. I can't imagine that there have been any problems. It's very shocking to us, I can tell you that."
Michael Peacock's co-workers at the Ken Garff Automotive Group also were distraught. He had worked at the company in a variety of management positions since 1989, company COO John Garff said.
"Everyone here is in complete shock," said Garff. "He was a personal mentor to me. He was about as loyal of an employee as you could hope for, and he was a real champion of the employees that worked for him. He was focused on people improving themselves. That's what he was about, and that's why he was so loved."
Garff said he had met Becky Peacock on many occasions and found her to be "gracious, warm and friendly."
No one who knew the couple said there was any hint of trouble in their relationship or any indications of domestic violence. But in court documents, Hardy said she had heard "Becky threaten to shoot Michael" in the past. And Stephens said county deputies had responded to the residence about a year ago on a domestic dispute.
An all-points-bulletin issued for Becky Peacock Friday morning indicated that she might be headed to either California or New Mexico, where she has some relatives. Police say the woman surrendered in New Mexico to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office about 3 p.m. Friday. Stephens said he expects an extradition hearing to be held early next week to bring the woman back to Utah.
E-mail: jdobner@desnews.com