The 16-year-old was booked into juvenile detention as investigators pursue two counts of first-degree murder in the March 2025 shootings.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of his mother, Jessica Lyman, and his 8-year-old brother, Eli Painter, more than a year after the two were found inside their Saratoga Springs home, police said.
The teenager, whose name has not been released because he is a juvenile, was booked into a juvenile detention center Friday as police investigate two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities said a decision has not been made on whether the case will proceed in juvenile or adult court.
Lyman and Eli were found with gunshot wounds inside a residence at 1244 N. Willowbrook Lane on March 28, 2025. Eli was pronounced dead at the scene. Lyman was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died from her injuries. Police Chief Andrew Burton described the shootings as a “violent and tragic act.”
The arrest followed a nearly 17-month investigation that included dozens of search warrants, hundreds of pieces of evidence, interviews and reviews of video, electronic records and other information, Burton said. The FBI, Utah County Sheriff’s Office evidence team, West Valley police and the Utah medical examiner’s office assisted Saratoga Springs investigators.
“This very complex case required an extraordinary amount of time, attention to detail and perseverance,” Burton said during a Friday briefing. He said investigators are continuing to conduct interviews even after the arrest.
Previously unsealed court documents offered details about evidence investigators collected during the case. Search warrant affidavits said gunshot residue was detected on clothing worn by the teenager, who was 15 at the time of the shootings. Investigators wrote that they were unaware of another explanation for the residue. The warrants also said police had not located the firearm used in the killings at the time those documents were filed.
The documents said a 17-year-old girl discovered her mother and brother unconscious inside the home and called police. The teenage boy who was later arrested was also in the residence, according to the warrants. He told investigators that he had been sleeping and had not heard the shooting.
Search warrants also described evidence taken from the teenager’s bedroom and electronic devices. Investigators reported finding two BB pistols, tactical-style equipment and handwritten notes that referenced forensic testing. Police also examined the teen’s use of messaging applications and communications about the homicide investigation. Those details were contained in investigative affidavits and do not constitute findings of guilt.
Burton said investigators executed dozens of warrants while working through the evidence before making an arrest. “We recognize that no arrest, prosecution or outcome can undo the pain caused by this tragedy,” he said. He thanked the victims’ families for their patience and cooperation during the lengthy investigation.
The Orton and Painter families issued statements Saturday describing the arrest as an important development while emphasizing that the court process remains ahead. Jason Painter said the family trusts that process and intends to remember Jessica and Eli for their lives rather than only for the circumstances of their deaths. The Orton family said it still has questions and expects to work with the Utah County Attorney’s Office as the case moves forward.
The teenager has not been convicted of a crime, and authorities had not announced whether prosecutors would seek to handle the case in adult court. Police said the investigation remains active as the legal process begins.
Author note: Last updated August 15, 2026.