Sentencing delayed so man can testify about girl's death

Federal prosecutors have asked to delay sentencing for a suspect in the Kiplyn Davis disappearance until he has a chance to testify against a fellow suspect who has allegedly confessed to having a hand in the 15-year-old's death.

This week a federal judge granted a motion to delay the March 22 sentencing date for Garry Blackmore, 25, until June. In their motion, federal prosecutors said Blackmore needs a chance to make good on his agreement with them to testify against Timmy Brent Olsen in his federal perjury case next May. Blackmore has also agreed to testify against Olsen in a state case involving a murder charge in connection with Davis' disappearance.

"(Blackmore) has cooperated in this case, has provided evidence against others and has agreed to testify against Timmy Brent Olsen in a perjury case. In return the government has agreed to the negotiated plea that has been entered in this case," wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Esqueda.

Specifically, Blackmore is expected to confirm that Olsen admitted to killing Davis during a road trip to Wendover after Davis vanished. Police say Davis disappeared from Spanish Fork High School shortly after her lunch break on May 2, 1995. Dozens of undisclosed witnesses have told investigators that two men, one of them Olsen, took Davis up a nearby canyon where she was sexually assaulted and killed. Blackmore also was allegedly asked by Olsen to find help in moving a female body in 1997.

Olsen has denied having any involvement in Davis' death and disappearance. In addition to Blackmore agreeing to testify against Olsen, Scott Brunson has also agreed to testify that he was asked by Olsen to tell police that he was helping to roof a shed at Brunson's home on the day Davis disappeared.

Both Blackmore and Brunson remain charged with perjury before a grand jury and lying to an FBI agent. Two other men, Christopher Neal Jeppson and Rucker Leifson, also face trial for similar counts. Prosecutors say all five men took part in a conspiracy of silence around what happened to Davis.

---

E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com