Destiny Anne Norton Murder Case
Destiny Norton
31st Dec, 2008 - 8:38pm
Destiny's body was found stuffed inside a plastic tub in a neighbor's basement a year ago. She was only 5 years old. What it always shocks me about these cases are the pictures of the killers, they look like normal folks… it can be anyone, any of your neighbors or friends. In most cases where children go missing, they are killed within an hour of the abduction.
The Destiny Norton disappearance revolved around the disappearance of Destiny Anne Norton, the following intense search, and the subsequent finding of her body less than 100 feet from her home in the basement of her neighbor, 20-year-old Craig Roger Gregerson. On July 16, 2006, Destiny Norton (November 30, 2000 – July 16, 2006) a five year old Salt Lake City child disappeared from her home. She was last seen as she left her home after arguing with her parents about going to bed. She lived in a small ranch house with her mother and father, and about ten other couples and friends who shared the house for economic reasons. Volunteers posted missing posters throughout Salt Lake City, describing her several silver capped teeth on the bottom row of her mouth, blonde and green hair, and dressed in a grey shirt with black stripes. After a massive eight-day search by about 5,000 community volunteers, FBI and police, Destiny's body was found on July 24, 2006, less than 100 feet from her home in the basement of her neighbor, 20-year-old Craig Roger Gregerson. Family and friends were initially outraged after the search ended, and accused authorities of mishandling the investigation. An apology on behalf of the family and friends was later issued in a press conference. Gregerson was formally charged on July 27, 2006 with kidnapping and aggravated murder. He waived his rights to a speedy trial, and later waived his rights to a preliminary hearing which had originally been scheduled for October 3 and October 4, 2006. In a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty, he plead guilty to capital murder and child kidnapping on December 4, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder, and fifteen years to life for the kidnapping. The sentences will be served consecutively.
Source 6a