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AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4) — An eight-minute phone call detailing the moment an American Fork couple was found dead in their home is now revealing what may have led up to their deaths.
On June 20, around 12:40 p.m., officers with American Fork Police were dispatched to the area of 1400 North and 80 East after the following 911 call came through dispatch.
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The exchange below details the moment the caller informed dispatch that they found the bodies:
CALLER: “I think my dad killed my mom, but then he killed himself.”
DISPATCH: “Are they beyond help?”
CALLER: “I, yeah. Yes.”
DISPATCH: “Do you see any weapons?”
CALLER: “Yes. There is a gun.”
The day after the couple was found, police identified them as husband Olin Johnson, 57, and wife, Kerilyn Johnson, 52. Police also classified their deaths as a murder-suicide on June 21.
Based on the investigation, police said it appeared that Olin Johnson fatally shot Kerilyn Johnson before fatally shooting himself.
Officers asked the caller if the couple had a violent history:
DISPATCH: “Have they been violent? Do they have a history of fighting or . . . ?”
CALLER: “No, but there’s been a lot of drama recently in the household. Just within the past four days.”
According to the 911 call obtained by ABC4.com, the caller revealed how the two may have been having arguments days leading up to the shooting and how issues had been observed in the home before:
CALLER: “There has . . . 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.”
The American Fork Police Department said parts of this investigation are still underway.
Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately.
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