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Best indicted on three counts of first degree murder

Jeremy Best during his initial appearance over Zoom. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

• Prosecutors ask the public to refrain from uninformed speculation. 

SVI Media/Teton/Bonneville

DRIGGS, IDAHO — An indictment by a Teton County grand jury was unsealed Dec. 12, 2023,  charging Jeremy Albert Best  with three counts of “Murder in the First Degree” for the killings of Kali Jean Best, her unborn fetus, and Zeke Gregory Best.

In addition there are three enhancements for use of a firearm or other deadly weapon in the commission of the three murders.

The report came in a joint news release from the prosecuting attonrey’s offices in Teton and Bonneville counties in Idaho.

The indictment supersedes the Amended Criminal Complaint against Jeremy Best in Teton County case number CR41-23-0877, and as a result there will not be a preliminary hearing, according to the two offices.

Under the circumstances of this case, Idaho law allows Best to be prosecuted in Teton County for all three murders, even though one of the victims was found in Bonneville County.

Prosecutors and law enforcement in Teton and Bonneville counties, as well as the Idaho State Police and other law enforcement agencies, are cooperating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Prosecutors from Teton and Bonneville Counties ask the public to refrain from uninformed speculation regarding this case, including the defendant’s mental state, the facts surrounding the killings, or otherwise.

“Misinformed or uninformed posts and articles can promulgate a prejudicial narrative among potential jurors and can become exhibits in motions to change venue,” explained Bailey Smith, Teton County Prosecuting Attorney.

Kali Randall with Zeke Best | Courtesy photo

According to Randy Neal, Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney, “excessive pre-trial publicity can lead to changes in venue which deprive both the State and the Defendant from having an impartial jury of peers selected from the local community.”

Smith added, “I understand that people want and deserve facts about what happened, but we implore the public to be patient and wait for facts to come out through the open court process,” added Smith.

The case will now be scheduled for an arraignment before a district judge, however, the date and time of the arraignment are not yet known.

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