No suspects in Payson killing, but public not in danger

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buy this photo Kay Mortensen, a retired Brigham Young University professor of engineering, was killed in a home invasion in Payson Canyon on November 16, 2009. BYU courtesy photo

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PAYSON -- The Utah County Sheriff's Office is still releasing little information about a fatal home invasion near Payson, but officials say if they felt the public was in danger, they would let them know.

"As of right now, we don't have that concern," said Lt. Darren Gilbert, spokesman for the sheriff's office.

Gilbert said no suspect information has been released yet by the sheriff's office, and the only official information they have given out is that a blue hatchback may have been involved. It has also been confirmed that there was a home invasion and a homicide in Payson Canyon on Monday night.

The investigation is very sensitive, Gilbert said, and information about what has been found and what police know has not been released.

If the public were in danger, information would be released to them verifying that, he said.

"If we had a concern for the public, you can be assured that we would be addressing that," Gilbert said.

Gilbert said a person called police anonymously Monday night with suspect information, and officials are looking to speak with the anonymous caller.

"We are encouraging that individual to please contact us again," he said.

Authorities have confirmed that Kay Mortensen, 70, a retired Brigham Young University professor of engineering, was killed in the attack.

Various reports have identified two men as suspects who were described as having short, black, painted hair and who may be armed. They are believed to both be about 5-feet, 8-inches tall and were wearing jeans. Two family members who came to the home near 11600 S. Canyon Road found the victim dead, said Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon. Cannon said the two suspects were still in the home, and at least one of the men had a handgun.

The victim's throat was slashed and the two family members who arrived at the home were tied up after the suspects broke in around 7 p.m., according to various media reports. Cannon would confirm only that a knife was used in the attack.

The two surviving victims were able to get loose and call 911 around 8 p.m. after the suspects left the home. Cannon said police still do not know the identities of the suspects or if they had any connection to the family.

"We just don't know what motivation there was," he said.

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