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Utah Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter After Fatally Shooting Friend amid Botched Suicide Pact

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Utah Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter After Fatally Shooting Friend amid Botched Suicide Pact


The 21-year-old victim, Brooklyn Barrett, was remembered by loved ones as a “vibrant and promising young woman”

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Amy Mills/GoFundMe

Brooklyn Barrett

A Utah woman accused of murdering her friend in a botched suicide pact earlier this year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, authorities confirmed.

Heavenly Faith Garfield pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and will be sentenced on Nov. 6, Timothy L. Taylor, Deputy Utah County Attorney, said in an emailed statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Sept. 27. She faces up to 15 years in prison, per the statement.

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Garfield was arrested in April and charged with murder and felony discharge of a firearm after the shooting death of her 21-year-old friend, who was identified by family on a GoFundMe campaign and obituary as Brooklyn Michelle Barrett.

21-Year-Old Utah Woman Arrested on Murder Charge After Shooting Friend Dead amid Suicide Pact

On April 30, Garfield’s father called 911 to report the shooting, in which authorities said his daughter shot the victim in a Saratoga Springs, Utah, home, per an affidavit of probable cause cited by KUTV, the Associated Press and CBS News.

Officers who responded to the scene said the victim had a gunshot wound to the head and that her body had been covered with a blanket and there were flowers on a bed, Court TV reported.

<p>courttv Heavenly Faith Garfield” fifu-data-src=”https://wp.fifu.app/newspub.live/aHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL255L2FwaS9yZXMvMS4yLzNCbURXRHhzdWVTRWxYTVNLdVNvZlEtLS9ZWEJ3YVdROWFHbG5hR3hoYm1SbGNqdDNQVGsyTUR0b1BUWTBNUS0tL2h0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEuemVuZnMuY29tL2VuL3Blb3BsZV8yMTgvOTBmODdlYmI2OWVmYmFhYTVlZjI4M2Q0MmU4MzMwYWM/1422677ec27d/utah-woman-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-after-fatally-shooting-friend-amid-botched-suicide-pact.webp?p=1610524″><img decoding=

courttv

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Heavenly Faith Garfield

“Investigators determined that Garfield and [her] friend had entered into a suicide pact and Garfield admitted to shooting [her] friend in the head,” Taylor said in the statement to PEOPLE. “After shooting [her] friend, Garfield did not go through with the suicide pact.”

According to the affidavit, the friends had reportedly been discussing the suicide pact for several weeks, family members said, the AP reported. The affidavit states a friend of the victim showed police text messages in which she said she wanted to die, but was too scared to kill herself. The friend also confirmed Garfield’s suicide pact with the victim to police, per the AP.

As part of her plea, Taylor said Garfield admitted to the following facts: “On or about April 30, 2024, in Utah County, Utah, I knew [friend] intended to end her life by suicide and I aided [friend] to commit suicide.”

Barrett was remembered on the GoFundMe campaign created to support her parents in the wake of her death as a “vibrant and promising young woman.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

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“Her unexpected departure has left her loved ones grappling with the immense pain and burden, preferring to focus on honoring her memory and celebrating the beautiful life she lived,” the fundraiser continued.

According to her obituary, Barrett was a 2021 graduate of Herriman High School and worked at a daycare prior to her death. She also enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors, the obituary states.

Taylor said the victim’s family “supported the resolution.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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Utah

Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Summer League recap and final score

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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Summer League recap and final score


The Utah Jazz won their final summer league game against the Portland Trail Blazers 83-79. It was a fun game that came down to the wire, with a few Jazz players showing promise that could help the team.

The player who surprisingly didn’t help as much as you’d hope was Blake Hinson, who shot just 1/9 from three. Hinson was a sharpshooter for the Jazz last season, and it’s too bad that he couldn’t show that shooting stroke in the summer league. It’s likely not a big deal, but it would have been nice to see that shooting continue in the summer league. It does make you wonder why all the players who played for Utah last season, or will be getting regular minutes next year, didn’t shoot well in Las Vegas. Is that a trend? Or is it just a coincidence? It makes you wonder if the Jazz have been running hard practices, or if the players are tired from enjoying their time in Las Vegas? There’s no way to really know, but it’s interesting.

Utah’s strongest performer, in terms of plus-minus, was Bez Mbeng. He was a team-leading +14 and, even though he didn’t shoot the ball well either, his defense and intensity really shows on the floor. In this one, Mbeng had 4 steals and handled the ball for a lot of the game. He was also one of the top players in minutes with 20 in this one. I personally really like Mbeng and I’m rooting for him to make the team. I do think he can be a defensive-focused do-it-all player who could really contribute if he keeps improving.

Justin Harmon scored the ball well, leading the team in scoring with a team-leading 21 points. He had 6 free throws in this one and was a positive contributor overall. Harmon could be a nice addition to the training camp roster and, if he can show out, maybe he can earn himself a roster spot. He’s worth watching going forward at the very least.

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And with that, the summer league is now over, and we now enter a long summer that will lead into one of the most exciting eras of Jazz basketball I can remember. It will be led by the best prospect in Jazz history to actually suit up for the Utah Jazz, and I can’t wait to see him develop into a superstar wearing the purple and blue.



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Here’s who will lead Utah Valley University as its next president

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Here’s who will lead Utah Valley University as its next president


Jon Anderson will be charged with moving the Orem school forward following the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on campus last year.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Incoming UVU President Jon Anderson poses for a photo with his family after an event announcing his selection at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, July 17, 2026.



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Beaver County residents set up thousands of sandbags ahead of flashfloods

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Beaver County residents set up thousands of sandbags ahead of flashfloods


BEAVER COUNTY, Utah — A massive community effort is underway as volunteers and Beaver County crews distribute thousands of sandbags to protect homes from the potential path of floodwaters.

After the Cottonwood Fires, residents have been waiting for weeks for relief to come in the form of rain, though officials now warn it may come all at once with an increased risk of flooding and debris flow.

Emergency Service Director Les Whitney believes that the fire has left plenty of debris to bring trouble for residents.

“We got a lot of water. We’re bringing debris with it, so tree branches, tree limbs, logs, lots of different size firewood, and that’s all in the creeks. We’re worried about that plugging up our bridges and stuff, so we have heavy equipment and excavators located in strategic places so that we can keep those bridges open,” said Whitney.

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An estimated 140 homes and condominiums were spared from the flames, but remain in the paths of floodwaters.

Residents can also pick up sandbags at the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office or at the Beaver County Rodeo Fairgrounds.





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