SALT LAKE CITY – A Vernal mother was charged Friday for gunning and killing her 2-year-old son while he was sitting in his car seat.
Valerie Stringham Peck, 40, is on trial in Uintah County’s 8th District Court on charges of murder, a first degree felony, and child molestation, a second degree felony.
On December 14th, Peck took her two-year-old son Zack to a campsite in Dry Fork Canyon and Red Cloud Loop Road “after making plans for the deed” and shot him after 20 to 30 minutes with a .22 -Rifle while he was sitting in his car seat, according to the charges documents.
Peck also shot himself and then drove to another area of Uintah County, Fantasy Canyon, where officers responded after receiving multiple 911 calls, the indictment said. The officers found Peck and the deceased child and took them to the hospital. She was arrested after receiving treatment for her wounds.
Peck shot himself twice in an attempt to kill himself, according to a police affidavit. When that didn’t work, she drove into the canyon off State Route 45, possibly “freezing” to death.
Prosecutors have requested that Peck be detained without bail.
She was charged with trespassing in July in an incident at the Ashley Regional Medical Center in Vernal. After she was charged, Peck’s husband called the court and stated that his wife was dealing with mental health problems, the court records say. Peck pleaded in September not to contest the charges.
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