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Salt Lake County Jail
Police and prosecutors had at least three opportunities following the April 3, 1985, rape of Joyce Yost to prevent the man who had sexually assaulted her from making good on his threat to return and take her life.
Breakdowns in communication between multiple individuals, agencies and Utah’s courts allowed the suspect, Douglas Anderson Lovell, to repeatedly leave custody before he at last returned to Yost’s apartment and killed her.
Lovell has spent the last 35 years in prison and faces the death penalty for killing Yost days before she was to testify against him in court. Yost’s body has never been located.
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Family photo
Spools of magnetic tape captured the voice of Joyce Yost on the morning of April 4, 1985. An audio cassette rolled as Yost offered a step-by-step account of her sexual assault at the hands of a man she’d never met.
“He grabbed me by the throat and he was forceful and told me if I screamed or said anything that he would tear my throat open,” Yost can be heard saying through the tape’s analog hiss.
Joyce Yost’s police report
Yost had spent the evening prior to her report having dinner with a friend at a supper club called Pier 3. She’d parted ways with that friend in the parking lot outside of the club a bit after 10 p.m.
KSL TV
SOUTH OGDEN Police and prosecutors had at least three opportunities following the April 3, 1985 rape of Joyce Yost to prevent the man who had sexually assaulted her from making good on his threat to return and take her life.
Breakdowns in communication between multiple individuals, agencies and Utah s courts allowed the suspect, Douglas Anderson Lovell, to repeatedly leave custody before he at last returned to Yost s apartment and killed her.
Lovell has spent the last 35 years in prison and faces the death penalty for killing Yost days before she was to testify against him in court. Yost s body has never been located.
COLD: Communication breakdown between law enforcement failed Joyce Yost ksl.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ksl.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY Gov. Spencer Cox on Monday appointed a Latina to fill an upcoming vacancy on the 2nd District Court.
If confirmed by the Utah Senate, Cristina Ortega, an assistant U.S. attorney, will take over for Judge Ernie W. Jones, who is retiring March 16.
“From her undergraduate and law school days to her legal career, Cristina Ortega has a track record of excellence,” Cox said in a statement. “Her experience as a prosecutor coupled with her experience serving on many community boards shows her devotion to public service. I know she’ll be a dedicated and valued member of the 2nd District Court bench.”