Investigation of Tooele woman's murder continues

Police and prosecutors met Wednesday to discuss the ongoing investigation of a Tooele woman found slain inside her home last October.

Seventy-year-old Evelynne Derricott's body was found by a friend the morning of Oct. 7, 2011. There was no sign of forced entry in the home, and her car was missing.

Chief Deputy Tooele County Attorney Gary Searle said police are following up on leads while they wait for "numerous items" still being tested at the Utah State Crime Lab for DNA and fingerprints. Searle said more than 10 items are being tested, including the victim's cellphone, found near the victim's car, which was left in a Kearns neighborhood.

Some items have been tested by the lab and those results are helping detectives develop new leads and strengthen the investigation, said Tooele police Lt. Paul Wimmer.

"What information we have received from the lab has been promising," Wimmer said Wednesday.

A day after the woman's death, police found her car, a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, abandoned in Kearns near Impressions Drive (5800 South) and Ridge Hollow Way (5300 West). Officers later found the victim's cellphone in somebushes near the car.

Police have not released the suspected cause of death, whether Derricott's body showed any obvious trauma or why police concluded her death was a homicide.

Wimmer said the tested evidence is helping to weed out which leads are credible.

"We are continually getting tips, we are continually following up on them," he said.

Police have not released the suspected cause of death, whether Derricott's body showed any obvious trauma or why police concluded her death was a homicide.

Prosecutors and investigators said they plan to meet again after all the evidence is tested, which could take a couple more months.

Anyone with information related to the case should contact Tooele police at 801-882-8900.

cimaron@sltrib.com

Twitter: @CimCity