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Jessica Schreifels

Investigative reporter

Jessica Schreifels, formerly Jessica Miller, is an investigative reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune, where she has worked since 2011. She was part of the team that won a 2017 Pulitzer Prize. She has collaborated with several national outlets for investigative projects, including FRONTLINE, American Public Media and ProPublica.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) These men allege that ex-therapist Scott Owen sexually abused them in his roles as their therapist, church leader or relative. On Monday, they gathered at the Provo courthouse as Owen was sentenced to prison after he admitted to sexually abusing patients during therapy. From left to right, front row: Mike Bahr, "Andrew." Second row: James Cooper, "Sam," and Michael. Top row: Jonathan Scott, Troy Leishman. Michael asked to be identified by only his first name, and Sam and Andrew are being identified by pseudonyms.

Utah ex-therapist Scott Owen sentenced to prison for sexually abusing patients

By Jessica Schreifels | April 1, 2025, 8:37 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith speaks during a news conference in June 2022 about his department's ritual sex abuse investigation. The sheriff's department on Thursday said it was "shocked" that a judge dismissed criminal charges against a central suspect last week after finding police and prosecutors withheld evidence.

‘Ritual’ sex abuse case: Utah County Sheriff’s Office says a judge’s dismissal of charges against a central suspect was ‘abhorrent’

By Jessica Schreifels | March 28, 2025, 1:04 p.m.

(Photo illustration by ProPublica. Photograph by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune)

New Utah law seeks to crack down on life coaches offering therapy without a license

By Jessica Schreifels | March 27, 2025, 2:56 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith speaks during a news conference in 2022 about his office's investigation into a "ritualistic" sex abuse ring. A judge on Thursday dismissed a case against a central suspect in their investigation, finding that police and prosecutors withheld evidence.

‘Ritual’ sex abuse case: Judge dismisses charges against a central suspect after police and prosecutors withheld key evidence

By Jessica Schreifels | Paighten Harkins | March 21, 2025, 9:57 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent appears in 4th District Court in Provo for a preliminary hearing in November. Prosecutors on Wednesday filed two more felony charges against him, now alleging he sexually abused five of his former patients.

More criminal charges trickle in against Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent

By Jessica Schreifels | February 26, 2025, 7:04 p.m.

(Robert Stevens | Sanpete Messenger) Joe and Lee Bennion of Spring City have been harassed over decade-old witness statements that accused of scores of Utahns of ritual abuse of children and other crimes, including cannibalism. It's clear that the Bennions and others were falsely accused, their attorney says.

This Utah couple is being harassed over old satanic abuse claims. They want the state to clear their names.

By Paighten Harkins | Jessica Schreifels | February 27, 2025, 1:18 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Seen on a video monitor, Dean Goodridge, father of Taylor Goodridge, who died at Diamond Ranch Academy, asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to support a bill which would bring more oversight to teen treatment programs. Behind him, a crowd of people wore green ribbons in support of the teen treatment industry.

Their kids died in Utah teen treatment programs. Now, these parents are asking Utah lawmakers to beef up oversight.

By Jessica Schreifels | February 22, 2025, 1:11 a.m.

An aerial photo shows Provo Canyon School campus on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Springville, Utah. Provo Canyon School's license for its Springville campus has been sanctioned after state inspectors have found repeated instances where children were not kept free from harm or violence.

Provo Canyon School staff hurt kids, Utah licensers found; its Springville campus is under close watch

By Jessica Schreifels | February 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utah County therapist Scott Owen walks into the courtroom on June 10, 2024. Owen pleaded guilty Monday to felonies, admitting he sexually abused some of his patients.

Utah ex-therapist Scott Owen pleads guilty to sexually abusing two patients during sessions

By Jessica Schreifels | February 10, 2025, 5:58 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Stephanie Gricius speaks about her bill HB281, a bill that increases parental consent requirements for mental health professionals in the public education system, during a House Education Committee meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

A Utah bill would let parents control what their child can discuss with a school therapist

By Jessica Schreifels | February 3, 2025, 5:22 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Heritage School's Homestead campus in Payson is pictured on Wednesday, August. 20, 2024.

After a youth’s suicide, this Utah teen treatment center is being monitored and could be shut down

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 29, 2024, 8:40 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A man who has acknowledged that one of his identities is Nicholas Rossi is wheeled from the courtroom following his preliminary hearing for rape charges at the Salt Lake City District Courthouse in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Rossi, accused of rape in Utah in 2008, was extradited from the United Kingdom after a series of hearings in which he claimed to be someone else.

Authorities say he faked his own death to avoid rape charges in Utah. His cases are now moving toward trial.

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 27, 2024, 8:53 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Maple Lake Academy in Spanish Fork, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Utah officials are shutting down a teen treatment program over safety concerns, years after girl’s death

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 23, 2024, 4:33 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) The lethal injection table is shown in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City.

How much it cost Utah taxpayers to execute Taberon Honie

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 20, 2024, 8:13 p.m.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Media witnesses, including Salt Lake Tribune reporter Jessica Miller, front left, examine the lethal injection table in the death chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City.

Lethal injection: An eyewitness account of Taberon Honie’s execution in Utah

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 8, 2024, 6:48 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Plaintiffs and their supporters after the Utah Supreme Court heard an appeal in their lawsuit alleging their OB-GYN David Broadbent sexually assaulted them. The state's high court ruled Thursday that Broadbent's alleged actions did not arise out of health care, and therefore are not covered by Utah's medical malpractice law. This decision revives the women's civil lawsuit.

Lawsuit that accused a Provo OB-GYN of sexually abusing dozens of women is revived by Utah Supreme Court

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 8, 2024, 10:51 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City on the night of death row inmate Taberon Honie’s scheduled execution on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. Honie died by lethal injection early Thursday, Utah's first execution in 14 years.

Taberon Honie dies by lethal injection, the first execution in Utah in 14 years

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | Paighten Harkins | August 8, 2024, 8:06 p.m.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Death row inmate Taberon Honie arrives for a Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.

Utah officials share how Taberon Honie has spent his final day before his expected lethal injection

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | Abigail Gray | Paighten Harkins | August 8, 2024, 7:57 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Death row inmate Taberon Honie looks on during the Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing Monday, July 22, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, in Salt Lake City.

Utah Gov. Cox says he won’t delay Taberon Honie’s execution

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | August 6, 2024, 6:34 p.m.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Death row inmate Taberon Honie leaves for a break during the Utah parole board's commutation hearing on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. Utah’s parole board on Friday denied Honie's request to stop his execution.

Taberon Honie comes closer to execution as Utah parole board denies commutation request

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | July 27, 2024, 12:35 a.m.

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