Brittany Nichols, 23
UT, North Ogden
January 4, 2009
Brittany's murder has left her young Daughter to grow up without her Mother in her life
A Standard Examiner obituary described Brittany as a joyous personality who, “with her outrageously contagious laugh ... could melt any frown into a shining smile.”
On Tuesday, December 30, 2008, Brittany of North Ogden was ending a four-month relationship with her boyfriend and roommate, Johnny Maurice Bell, 21. When Brittany’s father couldn’t reach her by phone on Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2009, he went to her condominium and found blood on the first floor. He discovered Brittany dead shortly after 1:00 p.m. in the master bedroom. Her father called the police. When they arrived they confirmed that Brittany was dead.
An autopsy report revealed that Brittany had been stabbed multiple times on her upper and lower torso.
Police say her 3-year-old daughter was on the premises when she was killed, likely for a number of hours before the homicide was discovered. Police suspected that she may have witnessed the slaying but are uncertain.
North Ogden police and the Weber County Homicide Task Force began looking for Bell. Investigators pursuing leads found an acquaintance that told them Bell was on a Greyhound bus headed for San Bernardino, California, where he had family. Utah Highway Patrol and Millard County Sheriff’s Deputies intercepted the bus about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. Police Chief Polo Afuvai stated, “he confessed to the crime,” saying Bell was angered when Brittany wanted to end the relationship. He admitted to using five knives to kill her because they kept breaking.
Bell made his first appearance at the Second District Court on January 7, 2009. He was formally charged with First Degree Felony Murder and Domestic Violence in the Presence of a Child, a Third Degree Felony. Court records said Judge Scott Hadley kept bail set for Bell at $500,000. Bell changed his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty” and was sentenced sixteen years to life in prison for Murder.
Sources:
UDVC.org - Utah Domestic Violence Coalition - Publications - 2009 DV Related Deaths
NoMoreSecrets.Utah.gov -Document Index - 2009 Domestic & Sexual Violence Report - 2009 DV Related Deaths
Davis Standard Examiner, September 9, 2009;
Deseret News, January 6,7,14,15, and March 4, 2009;
KSL News, January 4, 2009;
Ogden Standard Examiner, January 4, 5, 8,10, 14, 2009;
Salt Lake Tribune January 5,6, 7,10, 2009
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