For the family of Sierra Newbold, the arrest of the man police and prosecutors say walked into the Newbolds' West Jordan home last month and kidnapped, raped and killed the child has "allowed at least a small measure of closure."
In a statement released to media Wednesday, Brad Newbold, the 6-year-old girl's father, thanked police and offered support for the family of Terry Lee Black, who was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder.
"We offer our sympathy to the Black family during this sad time since they, too, are grieving a loss," Newbold wrote. "We want everyone to know we hold no animosity in our hearts toward Terry Black's wife and children."
According to charges filed Tuesday in 3rd District Court, a home surveillance video shows a man entering the Newbold's home shortly after 3 a.m. on June 26. The figure walked out eight minutes later carrying something.
Sierra's body was found five hours later in a nearby canal. Police found clothing belonging to the girl — pink pajama bottoms and her underwear — in a field near the canal, which had been blackened by a recent fire.
Black, 41, lived in an apartment about a half-block from the Newbold's home and neighbors said he had made a few appearances at church events in the Newbold's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward over the past year and a half.
Black was arrested three days later after allegedly robbing a West Jordan bank. A detective Black had black stains on his hands, knees and elsewhere on his clothing that looked liked they were from the burned field, police said.
After Black's arrest, a swab from his genitals was obtained and compared to DNA from Sierra's body. Examiners at the Utah State Crime Laboratory subsequently found Sierra's DNA profile on the swab taken from Black, according to charges.
"We are still trying to comprehend and reconcile the newly revealed developments in the case," the Newbolds' statement read. "We anticipate it will take a very long time to fully come to terms with what has occurred."
