TEEN SAID HE SLEPT THROUGH HIS MOM AND BROTHER’S KILLINGS — THEN INVESTIGATORS FOUND CHILLING AUDIO

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah — More than a year after a Utah mother and her 8-year-old son were found fatally shot inside their home, investigators say a series of disturbing clues helped turn the case toward a teenage family member who had initially told police he was asleep when the killings happened.

Jessica Lyman, 44, and her son, Eli Painter, 8, were found inside their Saratoga Springs home on March 28, 2025. Eli was pronounced dead at the scene, while Lyman was taken to a hospital and died three days later from her injuries.

Seventeen months later, Lyman’s 17-year-old son was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Because he is a minor, authorities have not publicly identified him. A court will ultimately determine whether he will be tried as an adult.

HE SAID HE WAS ASLEEP

When investigators first questioned the teenager, he reportedly gave a simple explanation.

He said he had been sleeping or napping and did not hear anything unusual before police arrived.

But investigators continued examining the evidence — and eventually uncovered information that they say contradicted that account.

One of the most significant discoveries came from surveillance audio recorded by a neighbor.

AUDIO CAPTURED AN ARGUMENT — THEN GUNSHOTS

According to charging documents cited by PEOPLE and local news outlets, surveillance equipment at a neighboring home captured voices that investigators said were consistent with Lyman, her son and Eli.

The recording reportedly captured an argument shortly before the fatal incident.

At one point, a voice believed to be Lyman’s can allegedly be heard saying:

“What are you doing?”

Approximately two minutes later, investigators heard the sound of gunshots.

That audio became a crucial piece of evidence as detectives reconstructed what happened inside the home.

GUNSHOT RESIDUE RAISED MORE QUESTIONS

Investigators also reportedly discovered gunshot residue on several items of the teenager’s clothing, according to charging documents cited by KUTV, ABC 4 and KSL.

The discovery did not stand alone.

Detectives had already identified other evidence inside the teenager’s bedroom that raised concerns.

Among the items investigators reportedly found was a handwritten note containing the words:

“This is a murder story.”

They also found intimate clothing belonging to his mother, along with other items that investigators considered relevant to the case.

INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN LOOKING AT HIM FOR MONTHS

Although the arrest did not come until August 2026, investigators had focused attention on the teenager much earlier.

A forensic examination of Lyman’s phone reportedly uncovered text exchanges between her and her son.

The messages allegedly revealed deep hostility.

In one text, the teenager reportedly wrote:

“Do you know how insignificant you are to my life?”

In another, he allegedly wrote:

“I wish I died in your stomach.”

Those communications are now part of the evidence prosecutors may use to establish a possible motive.

Authorities have not publicly announced a definitive motive for the killings.

A FAMILY DISCOVERED THE HORROR

The investigation began after Lyman’s teenage daughter returned home and discovered her mother and younger brother.

According to the previously unsealed warrant, Lyman was found seriously injured, while Eli had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The circumstances were immediately treated as a major criminal investigation.

For the family, the case has now stretched across more than a year — with the questions surrounding what happened inside the home becoming increasingly difficult to answer.

A MOTHER REMEMBERED FOR HER DEVOTION

Despite the disturbing circumstances surrounding her death, Lyman’s family and friends have remembered her for an entirely different reason: her devotion to her children.

Her obituary described her as the “greatest champion” of her kids.

She was known for working hard, advocating fiercely for her children and creating what her family described as a warm and loving home.

She also enjoyed theater, music and spending time at the beach.

Eli was remembered as an adventurous and creative 8-year-old who loved LEGO, Sonic and Minecraft.

He enjoyed solving puzzles, building elaborate creations and spending time cooking with his mother.

The night before his death, his family said he had played pickleball with them.

THE CASE NOW MOVES INTO A NEW PHASE

The teenager is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

Because he was 17 when the alleged killings occurred, a Utah court will determine whether the case proceeds in juvenile court or whether prosecutors will be permitted to try him as an adult.

It was not immediately clear from the latest reporting whether he has entered pleas or whether an attorney has publicly spoken on his behalf.

As the legal process moves forward, prosecutors are expected to rely on a combination of evidence, including the surveillance audio, forensic findings, digital communications and statements investigators say the teenager made.

THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

The arrest may have answered one major question — who investigators believe was responsible — but the case still leaves many others.

What exactly happened inside the home that night?

Why did the confrontation escalate?

What was captured during those final minutes on the surveillance recording?

And what ultimately motivated the teenager to allegedly turn against his own family?

Those questions will likely become central as the case proceeds through court.

For now, investigators say the evidence tells a dramatically different story from the teenager’s original claim that he simply slept through the tragedy.

A mother and her young son were gone. A teenager said he heard nothing. Then investigators found audio, forensic evidence and messages that pointed in another direction.

More than a year later, a devastating family mystery has become a first-degree murder case — and the evidence uncovered along the way could determine what happens next.