Autry's family tells jurors: 'Evil has a face'

LOGAN — The June 2000 murder of Trisha Ann Autry was like a massive earthquake or a large boulder thrown violently into a small pool, the teenage girl's mother said Tuesday.

"The initial impact was devastating, but the repercussions just go on and on," JoAnn Autry told jurors who will determine the fate of Cody Lynn Nielsen, the man convicted last week of kidnapping, killing and dismembering the 15-year-old.

The emotional toll was too much for the girl's father. LeRoy Autry, who had battled cancer for 16 years, died less than a year after his daughter's disappearance and one month before her partial remains were unearthed at a Cache County wildlife research facility.

JoAnn Autry described her daughter as a "precocious redhead" whose life was cut tragically short after only 15 years and 175 days.

"Trisha had an exuberance for life that demonstrated itself in the way she worked, loved and played," JoAnn Autry said.

The teen was a "confident, opinionated and powerful young woman. She didn't take guff from anyone. She didn't frighten easily, but she was afraid of this man, and for good reason," JoAnn Autry said.

Nielsen, 31, was convicted last week of one count each of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and kidnapping, and two counts of desecration of a human body.

Aram Autry, Trisha's older brother, told jurors about the impact his sister's death has had on his family. His 5-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter are afraid most of the time, they sleep in the same bed and his daughter won't walk the 100 yards to her best friend's house alone.

"They believe that it is normal for people to be abducted and murdered," Aram Autry said. "That's the reality they live with."

Pointing in Nielsen's direction, Aram Autry said, "Evil has a face: It's because of that man over there. That's why you're afraid; that's why I'm afraid."

When making their decision, Aram Autry asked jurors to do what he can't bring himself to do — think about the events leading up to and immediately after his sister's death.

"When I allow myself to wrap my mind around it, it's too much," he said. "I ask you to take your mind there to do what you need to do."

In his opening statement Tuesday afternoon, special prosecutor Scott Wyatt asked the eight-man, six-woman jury to sentence Nielsen to die for his crimes.

Jurors made a statement with the guilty verdicts, Wyatt said, but the one they will reach later this week will speak "volumes louder."

"It's your decision," Wyatt said. "It's the final message that you'll give to the defendant."

In addition to a death sentence, jurors can choose to order Nielsen to serve a life sentence in prison, with or without the possibility of parole.