Police arrested a 75-year-old South Jordan man Monday in the death of a Sandy woman who had been missing since Friday.
Masako Kenley, 53, was found dead Sunday night along the Jordan River near 8900 South and 700 West, according to a news release. During a news conference with Sandy police on Monday, an official said the man they arrested was an acquaintance of Kenley’s and that she was not abducted. She was last seen heading north to Layton from Sandy on Friday around 4 p.m. to have dinner with friends.
Detectives are still investigating possible motives and other details regarding Kenley’s relationship with the man. Police are waiting on an autopsy to determine how she died.
Police said the man will be booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated murder and desecration of a human body, both first-degree felonies, in addition to obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
Rocky Mountain Rescue dogs assisted in the search, the officer said during the news conference, and the dogs were “pivotal in locating Mrs. Kenley due to the thick brush and heavily wooded area.”
Police had said she was in a white Honda Odyssey, which was found Sunday afternoon in the Sandy Costco parking lot, according to a Facebook post.
Friends of the family have started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses, the cost of flying family members from Japan, and any other needs. As of 8 p.m. Monday, the campaign had raised more than $45,000.
Anyone with information regarding Kenley is asked to contact the Sandy Police Department at 801-799-3000.
— Tribune reporter Paighten Harkins contributed to this story.
