SALT LAKE CITY—Despite Utah leading the nation in growth over the last decade or so, a new study finds fewer Utahns are buying homes.

Real estate analysts with AgentAdvice found that Utah homeownership rates dropped just over 2% from 2014 to 2023.

Utah was one of only 10 states in the nation to see a homeownership rate decrease. Only Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, New York and New Jersey saw bigger decreases.

Thirty-nine states saw a homeownership increase in the last decade. Oregon was the only state to break with a 0% change.

Maryland, North Dakota, Montana, Kentucky and Alabama saw the biggest increases in homeownership in the last decade.

Analysts didn’t give any written thoughts on Utah or why less people are buying homes in the Beehive State.

As for those states with the biggest jump in homeowners, analysts gave some possible reasons including things like strong economies and affordable housing.

Utah was listed as the nation’s fastest-growing state in the 2020 U.S. Census, but the state’s home prices have risen dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another report released earlier this year, ranked Utah as one of the least affordable states to buy a home.

Utah homeowners insurance rates have skyrocketed

More single women are homeowners than single men, report shows

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OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — The Oden City Police Department has taken to social media to ask members of the public for help identifying a suspect who was seen damaging a horse statue.

Police provided a series of images captured by a security camera in Ogden, and said they are trying to identify a bearded individual who was seen damaging the statue. In two of the images provided by police, the painted horse statue can be seen standing upright.

In the third image, the horse statue appears to have been toppled over.

“This person was witnessed damaging one of the Ogden City Pioneer Days horses,” police said in the social media post.

The horse statue in question appears to be just outside of Moore’s Barber Shop on Ogden’s Historic 25th Street. The bearded suspect was allegedly captured knocking the statue down just before 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 14, based on the images shared by police.

Police said anyone with information about the bearded suspect should reach out to detectives with the Ogden City Police Department at 801-629-8228.

What are the Ogden City Pioneer Days horses?

The Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo is an annual event that first began in 1934 — and each year, the rodeo sees almost 50,000 visitors, according to its website.

Ogden Pioneer Days is a celebration of “rodeo heritage” and has several traditions that come back each year — including the “Trail to Pioneer Days” art project.

“Dozens of life-size fiberglass horses designed and painted by the area’s finest artists are on display along Historic 25th Street, the Junction and Washington Boulevard,” the rodeo said. “They lead the way to Ogden Pioneer Stadium where Ogden Pioneer Days originated and where the feeling of the American West still lives.”

The harrowing 911 call from the son of a Utah couple who found their bullet-ridden bodies has shed some light on what may have led up to the murder-suicide.

An audio recording of the eight-minute call obtained by ABC4 reveals that one of Olin and Kerilyn Johnson’s six children immediately suspected his father had shot dead his mother before killing himself.

“I think my dad killed my mom, but then he killed himself,” the unidentified son told a 911 dispatcher on June 20 at around 12:40 p.m.

“Are they beyond help?” the dispatcher calmly replied.

“I — yeah. Yes,” the shocked son answered, before telling the dispatcher there was a gun in the home.

Olin, 57, is suspected of shooting and killing his wife Kerilyn, 52, before turning the gun on himself inside their $1.34 million home in American Fork.

Investigators classified the deaths as a murder-suicide the next day.

“Have they been violent? Do they have a history of fighting or?” the dispatcher asked.

“No, but there’s been a lot of drama recently in the household. Just within the past four days,” the son answers.

He didn’t expand on what he meant by drama but said his father had served time for some kind of domestic dispute in the past.

“There was one instance of like a year or two ago that I think my mom, I don’t know, my dad was chucking stuff around the house. He had a — he went to jail for a little bit, but nothing, like, I don’t think like contact physically,” he said on the call.

The Mormon couple met in a college bookstore and had been married 32 years as of April. The dad proudly shared photos of his wife and kids on his social media pages.

But a couple days before the tragedy, Olin wrote a potentially worrisome caption next to a pic of himself on a motorcycle.

“No matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too,” Olin’s post on June 18 read alongside pictures of him riding his bike and skiing.

Two of his kids dispute his claims of being a “crappy person” in the comments.

Police have not revealed a motive in the shooting and are continuing their investigation.

Olin’s obituary described him as “always calm, thoughtful, kid and professional” with a “compassion for those in need” and a “constant source of calm and strength to his family.”

“As we cope with immense sorrow, mourning the loss of Kerilyn, our beautiful mother, daughter, and sister, we also mourn for Olin, despite his actions,” the joint obituaries state. “We are overwhelmed with love and support from the community and express our deepest appreciation and gratitude. If you or someone you love is in crisis, please reach out for help.”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.