Not all unnatural deaths were classified as homicides by law enforcement. Some deaths in 2008 made headlines but were not counted in the year-end list of slayings.
1. DRAPER, Feb. 23 — The body of Eric Moses Timberlake, 39, was found by hikers in a snowy, water-filled gully near the Draper Golf Course. It was determined Timberlake died of a methamphetamine overdose. What police were unable to determine was whether Timberlake died at the place where he was found or if he overdosed somewhere else and his body dumped. Investigators said the dumping scenario was more likely. Also unknown was whether someone else injected Timberlake with the fatal dose. The search for a suspect or suspects continued.
2. OGDEN, Feb. 26 — Alyssa Marie Lopez, 17, a popular student and cheerleader at West High School, was killed in an accident in the 5100 block of Harrison Boulevard following a high school basketball state tournament game. A 17-year-old boy who was weaving his car in and out of traffic to try to catch up with Lopez ended up clipping her car and sending her into a spin and fatal crash. The teen was booked into juvenile detention on a charge of negligent homicide.
3. JENSEN, Uintah County, April 13 — Jess Micade Horrocks, 14, died after consuming a large amount of alcohol. The teen and some friends gained access to liquor in a Vernal restaurant. His blood-alcohol content at the time of his death was 0.47, according to court documents. After Horrocks passed out at the restaurant, friends called Candice Collard, 23, to help. After she picked them up, she drove 10 miles to a house in Jensen where Horrocks was carried to a bedroom. Collard was originally charged with child abuse homicide, but that charge was dismissed by a judge in November. Collard still faces a charge of abuse or neglect of a disabled child. She is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 20.
4. KEARNS, April 28 — An 18-month-old boy died after being left in his car seat in his family's car in their driveway. The boy apparently died of hyperthermia on the hot day with the windows rolled up. The boy's mother had just unloaded groceries from the car while the boy slept and forgot about him. No charges were filed in the case, and no names were released.
5. ROOSEVELT, May 15 — Franchesca Isabel Montes, 22 months, was run over and killed in her driveway by an unlicensed 14-year-old girl. Nicole Annette Rodrigues, 34, and her niece were charged with manslaughter. Rodrigues pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of negligent homicide. She was sentenced in August to one year in jail. The girl also pleaded to negligent homicide in juvenile court and was sentenced in July to complete a residential treatment program at an Iowa youth detention facility, serve probation and perform community service.
6. WEST VALLEY CITY, Aug. 12 — The body of Nichi Edwards was found in a canal about 75 yards from her house near 1606 W. Heron Way (2450 South). Edwards was originally listed as missing following a fire in her house. The next day, searchers found her body in a nearby canal. The fire was determined to be arson. What remains unknown was whether Edwards was dead before or after she ended up in the canal. Detectives have been waiting a few months for toxicology tests to be completed and hope they will be able to tell whether her death was due to criminal activity or not.
7. SARATOGA SPRINGS, Aug. 21 — Cooper Mardesich, 4, died after being hit by a 15-year-old unlicensed driver near his home. Regina Tausinga, 40, and her son were each charged with negligent homicide, no proof of insurance and allowing an unlicensed driver to drive, or being an unlicensed driver. The teen pleaded no contest in November to negligent homicide and was ordered to serve 185 hours community service. His mom pleaded no contest and was also sentenced in December to 185 hours of community service.