SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT — A teenage boy has been taken into custody in the killings of Jessica Lyman and her 8-year-old son, Eli Painter, more than 17 months after the two were found shot inside their Saratoga Springs home. Police say the suspect was booked into juvenile detention and that prosecutors are weighing whether the case will move forward in juvenile or adult court.

According to ABC4’s initial report on the arrest and a follow-up report on statements from both families, the arrest marks the first major break in the case since March 28, 2025, when officers responded to the Willowbrook Lane residence and found Eli dead at the scene and Jessica critically wounded. She was flown to a hospital and later died from her injuries.

City police later said detectives screened two counts of first-degree murder with the Utah County Attorney’s Office after months of forensic testing, search warrants, interviews, and evidence review. An official Saratoga Springs release identified the suspect as a 17-year-old male juvenile, while ABC4’s initial report described the suspect as 16.

The families used the latest development to thank investigators while making clear they believe major questions still haven’t been answered. In statements shared through police, Jessica Lyman’s relatives said they expect the person responsible to be held fully accountable without exception or leniency, while Eli Painter’s family called the arrest an important step in a loss they say has devastated them for more than a year.

Police have said the investigation drew support from the FBI, the Utah State Crime Laboratory, the West Jordan Police Department, and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Team. Saratoga Springs investigators also said the case remains active as they continue follow-up interviews and finalize additional pieces of the prosecution file.