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Trent Nelson

Lead Visual Journalist

Trent has documented the people of Utah for The Tribune since 1995, earning nine news photographer of the year titles. Working with multiple Tribune reporters, Trent has covered the modern history of polygamy throughout the American West with a focus on the followers of Warren Jeffs' Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Cottonwood Fire burns east of Beaver on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Photos: Cottonwood Fire burns in central Utah

By Trent Nelson | June 24, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nomz Bistline in Colorado City, Ariz., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

She was a false prophet’s wife. Now she’s reclaiming her life after years of control and abuse.

By Jessica Schreifels | Trent Nelson | April 22, 2026, 9:48 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Crowd members run after a gunshot was heard at Utah Valley University in Orem, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. This is the first photo Tribune photographer Trent Nelson filed after the shooting.

What we saw: New video documents the Charlie Kirk shooting from the view of journalists who were there

By Trevor Christensen | Trent Nelson | Emily R. Anderson | Jessica Schreifels | December 31, 2025, 1:11 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Shar Code and Sandy Shaw organize donations at the Weber Fridge, a community food donation spot in Ogden on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Free-to-access fridges offer food without barriers for Utah's hungry.

As Utah food insecurity worsens, these community-run resources offer a stigma-free solution

By Jordan Miller | Trent Nelson | December 28, 2025, 8:57 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Law enforcement at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.

See the unusual security outside the court hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in Charlie Kirk killing

By Jessica Schreifels | Trent Nelson | September 29, 2025, 10:24 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk appears at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.

Photos: Charlie Kirk shot and killed in Utah

By Trent Nelson | Chris Samuels | September 15, 2025, 8:26 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Christine Marie and Tolga Katas embrace after Samuel Bateman was sentenced to 50 years at the federal courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. The Utah couple spent years collecting evidence of Bateman's abuse, which they gave to the FBI.

Samuel Bateman gets 50 years in prison after admitting he sexually abused his child ‘wives’ in FLDS offshoot

By Jessica Schreifels | Trent Nelson | December 10, 2024, 2:11 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Followers of Samuel Bateman embrace at Christine Marie's home after he was arrested during an FBI raid.

The FBI raided their homes and arrested their prophet. Then the polygamous group found out who the informants were. Read part 2.

By Trent Nelson | Jessica Schreifels | December 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Followers of Samuel Bateman in the immediate aftermath of his arrest.

A Utah couple infiltrated a new polygamous sect and helped put its abusive leader behind bars. Read Part 1.

By Trent Nelson | Jessica Schreifels | December 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Royalty Float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

PHOTOS: See this year’s Days of ‘47 Parade celebrating Pioneer Day in Salt Lake City

By Trent Nelson | Carmen Nesbitt | July 24, 2024, 6:14 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans watch Vampire Weekend at Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Photos: Kilby Court Block Party brings music and fans from all over to Utah

By Trent Nelson | May 13, 2024, 12:00 p.m.

How a Tribune photographer built trust with the insular FLDS community

By Trent Nelson | December 17, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The so-called "Green House," which was raided and searched by the FBI after the arrest of Samuel Bateman in Colorado City, Ariz. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

A look inside homes raided by federal agents seeking evidence of underage marriages in FLDS splinter group

By Trent Nelson | Jessica Miller Schreifels | December 6, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

With their polygamous prophet in jail, his followers wrote these questions to ask Samuel Bateman

By Trent Nelson | December 6, 2022, 2:29 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Underage followers of Samuel Bateman gather at the entrance to his home in Colorado City, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, after the FBI conducted a raid on this and other properties.

He told FLDS followers that Warren Jeffs was dead. Then, Samuel Bateman said he was their prophet now.

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | Trent Nelson | December 6, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

Polygamous leader Samuel Bateman had 20 wives, according to FBI

By Sheila McCann | Trent Nelson | December 6, 2022, 2:28 p.m.

Officials took girls from a historically polygamous community on the Utah-Arizona border. Then the girls went missing.

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | Trent Nelson | December 4, 2022, 5:26 p.m.

Utahns rally for reproductive rights during Women’s March event at Capitol steps

By Jordan Miller | Bethany Baker | Trent Nelson | October 9, 2022, 12:55 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Three girls embrace before they are removed from the home of Samuel Bateman, following his arrest in Colorado City, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. Seven were removed from the Bateman home, as well as two others from another house as part of the investigation.

Girls taken from homes in historically polygamous community after FBI searched for evidence of underage marriages

By Jessica Miller Schreifels | Trent Nelson | September 15, 2022, 1:33 a.m.

Cirque Italia

By Trent Nelson | June 10, 2022, 5:01 p.m.