This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
SOUTH SALT LAKE - The parents of Craig Roger Gregerson met with their son at the Salt Lake County jail Saturday for the first time since his arrest and urged him to "do all that is possible to expedite the [legal] process.”
Karen and David Gregerson of Orem walked somberly, arm in arm, up the ramp to the jail door about 7:55 a.m., accompanied by two sons and a daughter.
The visit took place just hours before 5-year-old Destiny Norton, whom Craig Gregerson is accused of killing, was laid to rest.
Gregerson, 20, has been jailed in lieu of $5 million bail since his arrest Monday on charges of capital murder and first-degree felony child kidnapping.
Investigators say Gregerson lured Destiny into his home July 16 and suffocated her by putting his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. They say her corpse was then sexually abused and hidden in his basement for eight days, all while thousands of volunteers combed Salt Lake City in search of the missing girl.
The Gregerson family declined to answer questions before Saturday's visit and again when they emerged from the jail about 9:40 a.m.
Family friend and spokesman Reed Farnsworth read a statement after the visit calling the Gregerson family a good, quiet family that shunned the spotlight.
He said the family abhorred hatred, violence and sin and added they had “urged Craig to do all that is possible to expedite the [legal] process.”
If found guilty of the capital murder count, Gregerson could face execution. A prison sentence of six, 10 or 15 years to life looms if he is convicted on the kidnapping charge.
Prosecutors have not said whether they will pursue the death penalty.
Farnsworth went on to say that the family “understands the show of anger in the community” after Destiny's death and asked that the legal process be allowed to take its course in Gregerson's case.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Nortons,” Farnsworth said.
The family members put their arms around one another as they walked through the jail parking lot back to their car.