ST. GEORGE — On the same day that Trisha Lynn Stubbs was slated to appear in court on a felony drug charge, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of three people in the 20-year-old woman's slaying.
Stubbs' body was found Jan. 7 by people who were four-wheeling in an area east of Toquerville, a small community about 25 miles north of St. George just off I-15. Stubbs, a petite 20- year-old woman, had been shot in the head. Her body was discovered not far off the Toquerville Falls Road, and officials believe she was killed there.
Kyle Sheldon Jensen, 20, of Ivins was booked into jail early Thursday morning for investigation of aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping, both first-degree felonies, and a second-degree felony count of obstructing justice.
Tina Eileen Roberts, 34, of Hurricane was booked on the same charges and a second- degree warrant issued earlier out of 5th District Court in St. George. Both suspects remain jailed with bail set at $1 million cash only.
Washington County officials also named a third individual, Jack Daniel Brown, 26, of Leeds as a suspect in Stubbs' killing. Brown was arrested Wednesday in Las Vegas on several outstanding Utah warrants and is being held there on $250,000 cash only bail.
During a news conference Thursday, Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said extradition proceedings are under way for Brown.
Belnap praised the law enforcement community for its quick response to the crime.
"I also want to acknowledge the family of Trisha Stubbs," he said. "Our hearts go out to them at this time of terrible loss. Even though we know there is nothing we can do to replace that loss, the law enforcement community is committed to doing justice for Trisha and her family."
Stubbs was arrested in November in St. George on a third-degree felony count of possession of a controlled substance and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She had retained an attorney and was scheduled for arraignment before 5th District Judge G. Rand Beacham Thursday. Stubbs was reported missing on Jan. 7 by a family member.
Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force, which includes officers and deputies from the county sheriff's office, St. George and Hurricane police departments and the county attorney's office, was activated shortly after Stubbs was found.
"The task force has literally worked around the clock since the body was discovered on Saturday," Smith said.
Stubbs' family is well known to the law enforcement community and others that work within the justice system. Gary Stubbs, the victim's father, is a bail bondsman, investigator and civil processor whose business is based in St. George. He declined comment on Thursday.
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com