A harrowing 911 call made by one of Olin and Kerilyn Johnson’s children has shed light on the possible events leading up to the murder-suicide of this Utah couple in June 2021. The eight-minute audio recording obtained by ABC4 reveals that one of their six children immediately suspected their father had shot their mother before taking his own life.
The son informed a 911 dispatcher at around 12:40 p.m. on June 20, “I think my dad killed my mom, but then he killed himself.” The dispatcher asked if there was any hope for the couple’s lives, to which the son responded with shock, “Yes.
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 following day.
The son explained to the dispatcher that there had been a lot of drama within the household recently but did not elaborate further. He mentioned his father had served time for some kind of domestic dispute in the past, but there was no indication of any physical violence.
Olin and Kerilyn Johnson met at a college bookstore and were married for 32 years as of April. Their family life appeared to be picture-perfect, with Olin sharing photos of his wife and children on social media. However, two days before the tragic event, Olin wrote a potentially worrisome caption next to a photo of himself riding his motorcycle: “No matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too.
While some of his children defended him in the comments section of the post, others questioned whether he truly was a “crappy person.” The police have not revealed a motive for the shooting and are continuing their investigation.
The couple’s joint obituaries describe Olin as “always calm, thoughtful, kind, and professional” with a “compassion for those in need” and a “constant source of calm and strength to his family.” The family mourns both Kerilyn and Olin despite the tragic circumstances.
In light of this story, it is crucial to remember that help is available for those struggling with crisis situations or relationship violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or by texting START to 88788.
