The Lafferty Brothers Murders: The Complete Story of the 1984 Utah Case

Case Overview

The Lafferty brothers case was a double murder committed in American Fork, Utah, on July 24, 1984.

The victims were Brenda Wright Lafferty, 24, and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica Lafferty.

The killers were Brenda's brothers-in-law, Ronald Watson Lafferty and Daniel Charles Lafferty.

The case became nationally known because Ron Lafferty claimed that he had received a revelation from God commanding that Brenda, Erica and two other people be "removed." The killings were also connected to the brothers' involvement with a small fundamentalist group known as the School of the Prophets. Court records, however, also document a strong personal motive involving Ron's divorce, his anger toward Brenda, and his belief that Brenda had contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.

Ron and Dan were arrested weeks after the murders and eventually convicted in separate trials.

Dan Lafferty: two concurrent life sentences without parole.

Ron Lafferty: death sentence, later overturned and then imposed again after a retrial.

Ron spent approximately 34 years on death row before dying of natural causes in Utah State Prison on November 11, 2019, at age 78. Dan remains imprisoned under his life sentences.

The Victims

Brenda Wright Lafferty

Brenda Wright was born on July 19, 1960, in Logan, Utah, and was raised in a Latter-day Saint family in Idaho.

Her family remembered her as intelligent, outgoing, athletic and ambitious.

She competed in the Miss Twin Falls Pageant in 1980, finishing first runner-up, and received scholarship money that helped her pursue higher education. She attended the University of Idaho before transferring to Brigham Young University, where she studied broadcast journalism.

Brenda worked as a student news anchor at KBYU and hoped to pursue a career in television journalism.

She met Allen Lafferty, Ron and Dan's younger brother, while attending BYU.

They married on April 22, 1982.

Brenda's family later emphasized that she genuinely valued her faith and that her personality was very different from the fictionalized version portrayed in some dramatizations of the case. Her sister Sharon Wright Weeks has repeatedly argued that Brenda should be remembered for her life rather than only for the circumstances of her death.

Erica Lafferty

Erica was Brenda and Allen's daughter.

She was only 15 months old when she was murdered.

The inclusion of a toddler in Ron's alleged "removal revelation" became one of the most disturbing elements of the case.

According to trial testimony, Ron believed Erica would eventually become like her mother and therefore included the child in his claimed revelation.

Brenda and Erica were ultimately buried together in a cemetery in Kimberly, Idaho.

The Lafferty Family Before the Murders

The Lafferty family was large and deeply involved in the Latter-day Saint community.

Ron had previously been regarded as a successful member of his community. He served in church and civic roles and had a relatively conventional life.

That began changing around 1982.

Ron became increasingly influenced by his brother Dan, who held increasingly radical political and religious beliefs.

Dan opposed government authority, taxation and modern interpretations of the LDS faith. He also supported plural marriage, which had long been rejected by the mainstream LDS Church.

Ron gradually adopted many of Dan's beliefs.

His appearance changed dramatically, and he became increasingly focused on religious and political ideas.

In 1983, Ron and Dan were excommunicated from the mainstream LDS Church.

Ron Lafferty's Marriage

Ron was married to Diana Lafferty.

The marriage deteriorated as Ron became increasingly committed to his new beliefs.

One major issue was Ron's interest in plural marriage.

Diana eventually left him and moved to Florida with their six children.

Ron became convinced that several people were responsible for the collapse of his marriage.

Among them were:

• His sister-in-law Brenda Lafferty
• Brenda's infant daughter Erica
• Chloe Low, who had counseled Diana
• Richard Stowe, an LDS leader who had been involved in Ron's excommunication

Court records state that Ron believed Brenda had encouraged and assisted Diana in leaving him. He also blamed Low and Stowe for their roles in the divorce and his excommunication.

This personal anger is extremely important when examining the case.

The School of the Prophets

Ron and Dan became involved with a small fundamentalist group known as the School of the Prophets.

The group was associated with Robert Crossfield, a man who claimed prophetic authority and taught members about receiving divine revelations.

Ron and Dan believed that they could receive communications from God.

Members met to discuss these claimed revelations and religious ideas.

The group was not the mainstream LDS Church.

In fact, the Lafferty brothers had already been excommunicated from the mainstream church.

This distinction is important because the Lafferty murders should not be described as a crime committed by the mainstream LDS Church or as a typical representation of mainstream Latter-day Saint beliefs.

Ron's Claimed Revelations

Ron claimed that he began receiving revelations directly from God.

One particularly important revelation became known as the "removal revelation."

According to court records, Ron claimed that four people had become obstacles to what he believed was God's work.

They were:

1. Brenda Lafferty
2. Erica Lafferty
3. Chloe Low
4. Richard Stowe

The revelation instructed that the people be "removed."

The other members of the School of the Prophets did not accept Ron's revelation as legitimate.

The disagreement became so serious that the group broke apart.

Ron and Dan, however, continued to believe that the revelation needed to be fulfilled.

The Second Revelation

Ron also claimed to have received another revelation on March 13, 1984.

This revelation concerned preparing or "consecrating" an instrument that could be used to carry out the removal.

The other members of the group rejected the idea.

The School of the Prophets subsequently disintegrated over the disagreement.

Ron and Dan nevertheless continued discussing the killings.

Why Was Brenda Targeted?

This is where the case becomes more complicated than simply saying:

"Ron killed Brenda because God told him to."

The prosecution argued that Ron's religious claims were intertwined with personal anger and revenge.

Ron blamed Brenda for helping Diana leave him.

Brenda also opposed the increasingly extreme beliefs of Ron and Dan.

She reportedly discouraged her husband Allen from becoming deeply involved with their brothers' group.

Ron therefore saw Brenda as an obstacle to both his personal life and his religious ambitions.

At the 1996 retrial, prosecutors argued that the murders were essentially revenge killings in which religion was used to justify the violence. Brenda's sister Sharon Weeks later strongly emphasized the same interpretation, saying the real story was more about jealousy and revenge than religion.

However, the religious-revelation explanation was also genuine in the sense that Ron repeatedly claimed to believe it.

The exact relationship between his religious beliefs, mental state and personal anger was heavily debated during his trials and appeals.

July 24, 1984 — The Day of the Murders

On July 24, 1984, Ron and Dan traveled with two other men:

• Charles "Chip" Carnes
• Ricky Knapp

The four men traveled together in a green station wagon.

According to testimony, Ron had initially talked about obtaining firearms.

He eventually acquired weapons, but the murders were committed with knives.

The group went to the American Fork home where Brenda and Erica lived.

Allen Lafferty was away at work.

Ron and Dan entered the home.

Carnes and Knapp remained outside in the vehicle.

The Murder of Brenda

Inside the home, Brenda was attacked.

Court records state that she was severely beaten, strangled with a vacuum cord and had her throat cut.

She died in the kitchen.

Her husband Allen later discovered her body.

The Utah Supreme Court described the physical evidence and circumstances in its later opinions, and the prosecution presented extensive forensic evidence at the trials.

The Murder of Erica

Erica was killed inside the home.

Dan was identified in court records as the person who killed the child.

The killings were extremely violent.

Because the case involves a child victim, detailed crime-scene descriptions are intentionally omitted here. Your website can accurately describe the murders without reproducing graphic material.

The Utah Supreme Court later confirmed that Erica was 15 months old and that her throat had been cut.

What Happened Immediately Afterward?

Ron and Dan left the apartment.

The four men then drove to the home of Chloe Low, one of the people named in Ron's revelation.

They intended to kill her as well.

However, Chloe was not home.

The men broke into her house and took various items.

After leaving Low's home, Ron discussed going after Richard Stowe.

Stowe was the LDS leader involved in Ron's excommunication.

The group began driving toward Stowe's home.

They missed the turnoff.

The brothers ultimately abandoned the plan.

They stopped at a service station and then headed toward Wendover, Nevada.

This is important because Brenda and Erica were not necessarily the only intended victims.

The other two people named in the alleged revelation were also targeted.

The Escape to Nevada

The group reached Wendover, Nevada.

They rented a small kitchenette apartment, cleaned themselves up and spent the night.

The two other men eventually separated from the brothers.

Carnes and Knapp later became important witnesses in the prosecution.

The Lafferty brothers continued traveling.

The Arrests

Charles Carnes and Ricky Knapp were arrested on July 30, 1984, after leaving the Lafferty brothers.

Ron and Dan remained fugitives.

They were eventually arrested in Reno, Nevada, on August 17, 1984, by FBI agents.

The murders had occurred less than a month earlier.

The Evidence Against Ron and Dan

The prosecution had several important categories of evidence.

Witness testimony

Charles Carnes and Ricky Knapp traveled with the brothers on the day of the murders.

Carnes later testified that Ron admitted killing Brenda.

He also testified that Ron thanked Dan for killing Erica.

The written revelation

Police discovered the document containing Ron's alleged "removal revelation."

It specifically named Brenda, Erica, Chloe Low and Richard Stowe.

The document became one of the most important pieces of evidence demonstrating Ron's motive and state of mind.

Physical evidence

Investigators recovered and examined weapons, clothing and other evidence.

During the 1996 retrial, crime-lab testimony connected physical evidence to the defendants and their movements.

Statements

Statements attributed to Ron and Dan were also used during the proceedings.

The courts spent years examining whether particular statements and evidence had been properly admitted.

The Competency and Mental-Health Question

Ron Lafferty's mental state became one of the most complicated parts of the case.

Before trial, multiple psychiatric evaluations were conducted.

In 1984, court-appointed experts initially found Ron competent to proceed.

Then, on December 29, 1984, Ron attempted suicide by hanging while in jail.

He was found unconscious and without a heartbeat but was resuscitated.

The incident raised concerns about possible brain damage and his ability to participate in his defense.

In January 1985, a judge found him incompetent at that time and ordered continued treatment.

Later evaluations found improvement.

Ron was ultimately found competent to stand trial.

The mental-health issue did not end there.

It eventually became the reason Ron's original conviction was overturned years later.

Dan Lafferty's Trial

Dan was tried separately from Ron.

His trial took place in January 1985.

Dan largely represented himself, with appointed attorneys available in an advisory/standby role.

He was convicted on all six charges.

Those charges included:

• Two counts of capital murder
• Two counts of aggravated burglary
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder

The jury could not unanimously agree on the death penalty.

Under Utah law at the time, that meant Dan received life imprisonment rather than death.

He received two life sentences without parole, to be served concurrently.

Why Dan Was Not Sentenced to Death

The jury's decision is one of the unusual aspects of the case.

Dan was convicted of the murders but did not receive the death penalty.

A juror later indicated that some jurors considered his religious beliefs and other mitigating circumstances when deciding against death.

This does not mean the jury accepted that God had ordered the murders.

It means the jury considered the circumstances relevant to sentencing and could not reach the unanimous result required for execution.

Ron Lafferty's First Trial

Ron was tried later.

His trial ran from April 25 through May 7, 1985.

He was convicted of:

• Two counts of first-degree murder
• Two counts of aggravated burglary
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder

He was sentenced to death for the two murder convictions.

The Utah Supreme Court later affirmed the convictions and sentences in 1988.

Why Ron's First Conviction Was Overturned

Ron appealed his conviction through the courts.

The critical issue eventually became competency to stand trial.

In 1991, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that the trial court had used the wrong legal standard when evaluating Ron's competency.

The court concluded that it was not enough for Ron to have a basic factual understanding of the proceedings.

The question also involved whether he could rationally understand and participate in his defense.

His religious delusions and mental state therefore became central to the appeal.

The convictions and death sentence were vacated, opening the way for a new trial.

Ron Was Again Found Incompetent

After the federal ruling, Ron underwent additional competency proceedings.

In November 1992, a judge found him incompetent to assist his attorneys.

Doctors testified concerning religious delusions and his distrust of the judicial system.

Ron was sent for treatment.

Later, his competency was restored and he was eventually cleared to face another trial.

The 1996 Retrial

Ron was retried in 1996.

This time, his defense included arguments concerning his mental illness and responsibility.

The prosecution again argued that the murders were driven by Ron's anger toward Brenda and others, with the claimed revelation functioning as a justification.

The jury rejected the defense.

On April 10, 1996, Ron was again convicted.

He was found guilty of the same basic group of offenses, including the two murders, aggravated burglary and conspiracy.

He was again sentenced to death.

The Knife Evidence

During the retrial, prosecutors presented evidence concerning the knife used in the murders.

A cutlery-store owner testified that Ron had obtained knives from his store earlier in 1984.

A knife recovered along Interstate 80 was examined as part of the physical evidence.

Crime-lab experts also testified about evidence connecting the brothers to the crime.

The Disputed Question: Who Actually Killed Brenda?

There is an important detail that should not be oversimplified.

At trial, Dan testified that he alone slit Brenda's throat.

However, Charles Carnes testified that Ron admitted killing Brenda after they left the home.

The courts acknowledged this conflict in the evidence.

Regardless of exactly which brother held the knife at the final moment, both were legally convicted of the murders.

The prosecution's case against Ron included evidence that he had planned the killings, participated in the attack and had directly admitted responsibility according to Carnes' testimony.

Ron Lafferty's Death Sentence and Appeals

After his 1996 conviction, Ron spent the next decades challenging his conviction and sentence.

The case went through numerous state and federal appeals.

The Utah Supreme Court upheld his retrial conviction in 2001.

The U.S. Supreme Court later denied review.

Ron continued pursuing federal habeas and other legal challenges.

In August 2019, the Tenth Circuit rejected his latest attempt to obtain a certificate of appealability, leaving him with very limited remaining legal options.

Ron Chose a Firing Squad

Utah law permitted execution by firing squad under certain circumstances.

Ron selected the firing squad as his preferred method of execution.

At one point, his execution appeared increasingly close.

But it never happened.

Ron Lafferty's Death

On November 11, 2019, Ron Lafferty died at Utah State Prison.

He was 78 years old.

He had spent approximately 34 years on death row.

He died of natural causes before the state could execute him.

His death ended the possibility of carrying out the sentence against him.

Dan Lafferty After the Murders

Dan remained imprisoned under his two concurrent life sentences.

Over the years, Dan gave interviews from prison.

His statements were particularly controversial because he continued to describe the murders through the religious framework that had surrounded the original crime.

In a 2004 interview, he expressed no conventional remorse for the killings and continued to defend his actions according to his beliefs.

As of the most recent reporting I found, Dan remains incarcerated at Utah State Prison. A 2025 report about his daughter Rebecca's memoir also described a telephone call from Dan while he was an inmate there.

The 2015 Springville Connection

Dan Lafferty became involved in another controversial Utah case while imprisoned.

He had developed a relationship with Benjamin and Kristi Strack, a couple whose family later died in a 2014 mass killing-suicide in Springville, Utah.

In 2015, Dan told the Associated Press that he believed his ideas had influenced the couple.

This did not mean Dan was prosecuted for the deaths.

It is relevant because it demonstrated that his radical beliefs continued to influence how he interacted with people from prison decades after the Lafferty murders.

What Was the Real Motive?

There is no single explanation accepted by everyone.

The evidence supports several overlapping factors.

Theory 1 — Religious Extremism

Ron genuinely claimed that God had instructed him to remove Brenda, Erica, Chloe Low and Richard Stowe.

The written revelation exists as evidence that he had articulated this belief before the murders.

Ron and Dan continued to act on the revelation even after other members of the School of the Prophets rejected it.

This makes religious extremism an undeniable part of the case.

Evidence: Strong.

Theory 2 — Jealousy and Revenge

This is one of the most important alternative interpretations.

Ron blamed Brenda for encouraging his wife Diana to leave him.

Brenda also opposed the direction Ron and Dan were taking.

The prosecution argued that the religious revelation was partly a justification for a deeply personal act of revenge.

Brenda's sister Sharon Weeks has strongly supported this interpretation, arguing that the real story was more about jealousy, anger and revenge than religion.

Evidence: Strong circumstantial support.

Theory 3 — Mental Illness and Religious Delusions

Ron underwent multiple psychiatric evaluations.

His competency became a major legal issue.

Doctors disagreed at different stages about his mental state and ability to assist his attorneys.

The Tenth Circuit ultimately found that the original court had applied an incorrect competency standard.

However, the legal system did not ultimately find Ron legally insane in a way that prevented his second conviction.

His 1996 jury rejected the relevant defense arguments.

Evidence: Strong evidence that mental-health issues existed; their exact role in causing the murders remains debated.

Theory 4 — The "Revelation" Was a Justification

Another interpretation is that Ron's religious language was not the sole cause of the murders.

Instead, he may have used his claimed revelation to give religious legitimacy to personal anger.

This interpretation fits the prosecution's argument that Brenda was targeted because Ron blamed her for his divorce.

It also fits the fact that the revelation included people who Ron personally associated with his divorce and excommunication.

Evidence: Strong circumstantial theory, but the exact psychological motive cannot be proven with certainty.

Theory 5 — The Brothers Were Acting From Genuine Belief

The opposite interpretation is that Ron and Dan genuinely believed their actions were required by divine revelation.

Their statements, the written revelation and their later comments provide evidence that they did not view the murders in the same moral framework as ordinary criminals.

Dan continued to express versions of this belief years later.

This does not make the belief objectively true; it explains the ideological framework through which the brothers understood their actions.

What Did the School of the Prophets Think?

This is another important detail often lost in popular retellings.

The entire group did not simply approve of Ron's revelation.

Other members rejected the alleged revelation as not being from God.

The dispute became so serious that the group broke apart.

Only Ron and Dan, along with limited support from others, continued to believe that the "removal" had to occur.

Therefore, it is inaccurate to say:

"The School of the Prophets ordered the murders."

The more accurate statement is:

Ron claimed to receive a revelation and Ron and Dan acted on it after other members of the group rejected it.

What Did Brenda's Family Think?

Brenda's family has spent decades trying to preserve her memory.

Her sister Sharon Wright Weeks has repeatedly criticized portrayals that focus almost entirely on the murderers and their religious beliefs.

She has argued that Brenda was a vibrant young woman with ambitions, friends, a career goal and a strong faith.

Weeks also believes that the popular narrative sometimes turns Brenda into merely a character in a story about Ron and Dan.

That is why, for a responsible website, it is better to dedicate a substantial section to who Brenda actually was rather than treating her only as a murder victim.

The Death Penalty Debate

The case also became important in Utah's debate over capital punishment.

Sharon Weeks originally wanted Ron executed.

But after decades of appeals and repeated court proceedings, her position changed.

She eventually became an advocate for eliminating Utah's death penalty.

Her argument was that decades of death-row litigation created another form of prolonged suffering for victims' families.

Ron ultimately died naturally before his sentence was carried out.

Weeks has said that she accepted the jury's decisions but no longer supported the death penalty itself.

The Case and Under the Banner of Heaven

The Lafferty murders later became famous outside Utah through Jon Krakauer's 2003 true-crime book Under the Banner of Heaven.

The book used the Lafferty case as a central narrative while also examining the history of Mormon fundamentalism and violence.

In 2022, the book was adapted into an FX/Hulu miniseries starring Andrew Garfield.

However, the television series contains substantial fictionalization.

For example, Detective Jeb Pyre, played by Andrew Garfield, is a fictional character created for the television adaptation.

Brenda's sister Sharon Weeks has also publicly criticized the series for portraying Brenda and her faith inaccurately.

Therefore:

Do not use scenes from the TV series as evidence of what actually happened.

Use court records and contemporary reporting instead.

What the TV Series Changed

The series expands the story into a broader examination of Mormon history and religious belief.

It also introduces fictional or heavily dramatized characters and situations.

Brenda's family has specifically objected to some portrayals of Brenda's personality, religious life and family relationships.

Religious-history scholars have also noted that the series should not be treated as a literal historical documentary.

For your website, it would be useful to have a small warning box:

FACT CHECK: Under the Banner of Heaven is based on a real case, but it is a dramatic adaptation, not a documentary. Some characters and events were fictionalized or altered.

Official Court Case Information

The Lafferty litigation generated several separate court cases over decades.

Original Utah Supreme Court appeal

State v. Lafferty

Docket: No. 20740

Citation: 749 P.2d 1239

Decision: January 11, 1988

The Utah Supreme Court affirmed Ron's original convictions and death sentence.

Federal competency appeal

Lafferty v. Cook

10th Circuit: No. 90-4010

Citation: 949 F.2d 1546

This was the major 1991 decision that vacated Ron's original conviction and death sentence because of the competency standard used by the trial court.

Retrial appeal

State v. Lafferty

Docket: No. 970111

Citation: 20 P.3d 342

Decision: February 23, 2001

The Utah Supreme Court upheld Ron's retrial conviction and death sentence.

Later Utah appeal

Lafferty v. State

Docket: No. 20060201

This later proceeding concerned post-conviction issues.

Federal 2019 appeal

Lafferty v. Benzon

10th Circuit: No. 18-4016

The court denied a certificate of appealability in August 2019.

Important Timeline

Case Status

Case: Lafferty murders / State v. Lafferty

Location: American Fork, Utah, USA

Date: July 24, 1984

Victims: Brenda Wright Lafferty, 24; Erica Lafferty, 15 months

Perpetrators: Ron Lafferty and Dan Lafferty

Weapon: Knife

Ron Lafferty: Convicted twice; sentenced to death twice; died of natural causes in prison in 2019.

Dan Lafferty: Convicted; two concurrent life sentences without parole; remains incarcerated.

Status: Solved criminal case; both brothers were convicted.

Important distinction: This is not an unsolved mystery. The uncertainty concerns the precise psychological/motivational interpretation and some disputed details of who physically performed particular acts, not the legal identity of the perpetrators.

Real Photographs and Reliable Sources

1. Deseret News Archives — Best Historical Image Collection

This is one of the most useful sources for authentic photographs.

Their 2004 anniversary article contains historical photographs of:

• Ron Lafferty
• Dan Lafferty
• Brenda, Allen and Erica
• Court appearances
• Ron's later hearings
• Dan in prison
• Family members

Deseret News — Lafferty Case Historical Photo Archive

Important: these photographs are not automatically copyright-free. The page is safe and reputable to link to, but that does not give you permission to download and republish its photographs on your own website.

2. Deseret News — Brenda's Life

This is an excellent source if you want genuine photographs of Brenda before the murders.

It includes photographs from her college years, family photographs and her time as a student journalist.

Deseret News — Who Was Brenda Wright Lafferty?

This is particularly valuable because it helps your website show Brenda as a person rather than only as a crime victim.

3. Deseret News — 1996 Retrial

Useful for photographs and contemporary reporting from Ron's second trial.

Deseret News — Ron Lafferty Guilty Again

4. Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune has historical photographs and reporting concerning Ron and Dan, including court coverage.

Salt Lake Tribune — Lafferty Case Coverage

5. KSL

KSL has extensive reporting about Brenda, the family, Ron, Dan and the death-penalty debate.

KSL — Brenda Lafferty / Lafferty Case Coverage

6. UPI Archives

UPI's historical archive contains contemporary reporting from July 1984 and is useful for understanding how the case was reported at the time.

UPI Archives — 1984 Lafferty Case Report

7. Utah Court Decisions

For the strongest factual source, use the actual court decisions.

Utah Supreme Court — State v. Lafferty, 749 P.2d 1239

Utah Supreme Court — State v. Lafferty, 20 P.3d 342

✅ "The Lafferty Brothers and the School of the Prophets"

✅ "Ron Lafferty Claimed a Divine Revelation Ordered the Murders"

✅ "The Religious and Personal Motives Behind the Lafferty Murders"

✅ "The 1984 Murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty"

Why This Case Remains So Disturbing

The Lafferty case is not simply a story about two criminals.

It is a story about how personal resentment, family conflict, extremist ideology, claimed divine authority and mental-health issues became intertwined.

Ron transformed his anger toward his former wife, Brenda and other people into what he described as a religious mission.

Dan joined him.

The result was the murder of a 24-year-old woman and her 15-month-old daughter.

The other intended victims survived because circumstances intervened.

Ron eventually spent more than three decades waiting for an execution that never happened.

Dan remained imprisoned.

And Brenda and Erica's family spent decades dealing with the consequences.

The case became famous through books and television, but the most important fact is much simpler:

Brenda Wright Lafferty and her daughter Erica were real people whose lives ended on July 24, 1984.

The murders were solved, the perpetrators were convicted, and the court record provides a substantial factual account. What remains debated is how much weight should be given to religion, personal revenge, psychological illness and Ron's claimed revelations when explaining why the crime happened.

DateEventJuly 19, 1960Brenda Wright is bornApril 22, 1982Brenda marries Allen Lafferty1982–1983Ron becomes increasingly influenced by Dan's fundamentalist beliefs1983Ron and Dan are excommunicated from the mainstream LDS Church1983Ron's wife Diana divorces him and moves to Florida with their childrenEarly 1984Ron claims increasingly intense religious revelationsMarch 13, 1984Ron claims another revelation concerning an "instrument"Spring 1984Ron claims the "removal revelation" naming four peopleJuly 24, 1984Brenda and Erica are murderedJuly 24, 1984Ron and Dan attempt to reach Chloe Low and later Richard StoweJuly 30, 1984Charles Carnes and Ricky Knapp are arrestedAugust 17, 1984Ron and Dan are arrested in Reno, NevadaDecember 29, 1984Ron attempts suicide in jailJanuary 1985Dan is convicted and receives two life sentencesApril–May 1985Ron's first trialMay 7, 1985Ron is convicted and sentenced to deathJanuary 11, 1988Utah Supreme Court affirms Ron's convictionDecember 1991Tenth Circuit orders new trial because of competency issueNovember 1992Ron is found incompetent at a later competency hearing1994Ron's competency is eventually restoredApril 1996Ron is retried and convicted againApril 16, 1996Ron receives another death sentenceFebruary 2001Utah Supreme Court affirms retrial convictionNovember 13, 2001U.S. Supreme Court denies review2003Jon Krakauer publishes Under the Banner of Heaven2004Deseret News publishes major anniversary interview with Dan2015Dan publicly discusses his influence on the Strack familyAugust 2019Tenth Circuit rejects Ron's latest appealNovember 11, 2019Ron dies of natural causes in prison2022Under the Banner of Heaven television series premieres2025Dan's daughter Rebecca Lafferty publishes accounts of growing up with the legacy of the crime