John Jefferson
After a Utah husband fatally shot his wife of more than 30 years inside their million-dollar home in American Fork and then took his own life on June 20, the couple’s son, one of their six children, had to make a chilling 911 call informing police that his parents’ lives were beyond saving.
The 911 call, which first aired by local ABC affiliate KTVX, began with the son describing his interpretation of the apparent murder-suicide scene to a dispatcher and ended with new clues about what was going on at home between Olin Johnson, 57, and Kerilyn Johnson, 52, in the four days prior.
“I think my dad killed my mom and then he killed himself,” the son said, his voice shaking. “I don’t know how to put that more bluntly.”
“Oh man,” he added, taking a deep breath.
In response, the dispatcher was heard asking if “they are beyond help?”
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“I… yeah,” the audibly emotional son replied. “Yes.”
“I can’t go back in that room,” he continued.
When asked if he saw any weapons at the scene, the 911 caller confirmed “there is a gun.”
The million-dollar American Fork, Utah, home where the murder-suicide unfolded (KTVX/screengrab), (right inset) Kerilyn Johnson and Olin Johnson (obituary photo)
From there, the son revealed that “just within the past four days” there had been “a lot of drama” at home, “so this isn’t necessarily out of the blue.” Though he said his father and mother had not been violent towards one another in the past, the son did recall his father going to “jail for little bit” a year or two earlier after “chucking stuff around the house.”
KSL reported that the incident the son was talking about goes back to 2021 and was an eventually dismissed criminal mischief case against the husband for throwing a computer during an argument with his wife “that had been going on for months.”
It’s unclear what the prior protracted argument was about and unclear exactly what the “drama” at home within the “last four days” entailed, but it was previously reported that on June 18, two days before the murder-suicide, Olin Johnson posted online that “[n]o matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too.”
And that same day, there was reportedly a development in a different case brought against Olin Johnson in early May. Per KSL:
On May 9, Olin Johnson was charged in 4th District Court with doing business without a license, a class B misdemeanor. On June 18 — two days before the murder-suicide — a copy of a business license was filed as part of the case. The license wasn’t effective, however, until May 30. Charging documents state that Johnson’s business was selling modular panels on May 2.
An online obituary for the Johnsons said Kerilyn was a voice teacher for more than two decades and Olin was likewise a longtime Utah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteer.
The obit mourned his death as well “despite his actions.”
“As we cope with immense sorrow, mourning the loss of Kerilyn, our beautiful mother, daughter, and sister, we also mourn for Olin, despite his actions. We are overwhelmed with love and support from the community and express our deepest appreciation and gratitude,” the family said. “If you or someone you love is in crisis, please reach out for help.”
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