On July 31, 1970, 4-year-old Heidi Jones awoke to a nightmare inside her family home in Price, Utah. Her mother, 23-year-old Loretta Jones, lay brutally murdered on the living room floor—stabbed, bleeding, and lifeless.
Through the tears and terror, Heidi whispered a chilling name: “Tom did it.”
That single statement would echo through the decades, untouched by time—until Heidi, decades later, would become the very force that solved her mother’s murder and brought the killer to justice.
A Dying Clue Left in Blood
As Loretta bled out, she used her final seconds to write two letters in her own blood: “T” and “O.” A desperate, dying clue pointing to her killer—Thomas Edward Egley, a former boyfriend.
Egley was arrested just hours later—not for murder, but for attempting to abduct a 10-year-old girl in the same neighborhood. Yet, despite the evidence, prosecutors couldn’t make the murder charge stick. Loretta’s case went cold. And Egley walked free.
A Daughter’s Memory That Never Faded
Raised by her grandparents, Heidi grew up with grief—and a memory sealed into her soul.
For years, she tried to suppress the trauma. But in 1989, a TV show on cold cases rekindled her mission. She wrote letters, pleaded with police, and begged for answers—but got nothing.
Until fate stepped in.
A Facebook Comment That Changed Everything
In 2009, after venting about a stolen car on Facebook, Heidi received a comment from an old high school acquaintance: David Brewer, who was now a detective with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.
Without hesitation, she replied: “Will you look into my mom’s case?”
Brewer said yes. That single message reignited an investigation—and reopened a 46-year-old cold case.
The Break That Led to Justice
By 2010, Brewer had tracked down Egley, now living in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He reopened files, examined crime scene notes, and began pressing Egley for answers. The suspect was slippery. But he didn’t realize that his own neighbor, Lisa Carter, was working with investigators.
During casual conversations, Egley confessed to Carter—describing how he killed Loretta. With her testimony, police had what they needed.
In 2016, Egley was arrested. He finally admitted to the murder that haunted Heidi’s life for nearly half a century.
Face to Face With the Boogeyman
In court, Heidi confronted the man she had named as a child. No longer a monster in her mind, Egley was now a weak, elderly man.
“He’s not the boogeyman anymore,” she said. “Even the boogeyman gets old.”
He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 10 years to life. It wasn’t a perfect ending—but it was justice, 46 years in the making.
The Power of Unshakable Belief
Heidi never stopped fighting. And she never stopped believing.
“When families give up, the case dies. But if you believe—even after decades—you still have a chance.”
Her mother’s blood had written a final message. Her daughter’s persistence gave that message a voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Loretta Jones?
Loretta Jones was a 23-year-old Utah mother murdered in 1970. Her killer wasn’t convicted until 2016—46 years later.
How did her daughter help solve the case?
At age four, Heidi Jones named the killer. As an adult, she helped reopen the case through a Facebook connection with a detective.
Who was convicted of the crime?
Thomas Edward Egley, a former boyfriend of Loretta’s, was arrested in 2016 and pleaded guilty to the murder.
What was the key piece of evidence?
Loretta Jones used her own blood to write the letters “T” and “O” as she died. Egley later confessed to a neighbor, sealing the case.
Why did it take so long to solve?
Forensic science in 1970 was limited, and the case lacked physical evidence. It remained cold until modern investigative efforts revived it.
What is Heidi’s message today?
Never give up. “Believe” became her personal mantra—and the word that led to her family’s long-awaited justice.