BLUFFDALE — Police say a Bluffdale woman falsely reported that her husband had killed her because she caught him talking to another woman, prompting a large law enforcement response.
Rebbecca Spring Nielson, 44, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with emergency reporting abuse, a third-degree felony; and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.
On June 25, Nielson’s husband was text messaging another woman, prompting Nielson to get angry, according to charging documents. The two argued and Nielsen took her husband’s phone away, the charges state. The husband then went to an RV parked on their property to go to bed.
After her husband was gone, Nielson used his phone to text the same woman while posing as her husband, according to charging documents. She told the woman that “he shot his wife and didn't know what to do,” that “it was not a joke,” and “that his wife was dead and not breathing,” the charges state.
The woman called 911, prompting a large response from at least three police agencies including a SWAT team.
After several minutes of giving commands for people to come out of the house, Nielson finally exited, the charges state. A few minutes after that, the husband came out of the RV.
“(The husband) appeared confused as to why police were there,” according to charging documents.
In a police booking affidavit, Nielson said she wanted to find out how the woman would react and if she would try to help cover up the crime.
At the time of the incident, police say Nielson and her husband had been married for about 10 months.