Some joy for Destiny's family — new baby girl

It is bittersweet for the family of Destiny Norton.

The slain 5-year-old's baby sister was born Tuesday, more than a month after the massive search for Destiny ended in tragedy.

Faith LeeAnn Norton was born at 10:09 p.m., her family told the Deseret Morning News. She weighs 6 pounds, 11 ounces and is 20 inches long.

Rachael Norton and Faith are doing fine, said Destiny's uncle, Peter Brooks.

"They're doing real well," he said Wednesday.

The baby girl was originally to be named "Fate," a name that had been picked out by Destiny herself. Her parents, Ricky and Rachael Norton, decided to change her name, Brooks said.

"I think it has something to do with the faith they've received through all of this," he said Wednesday.

Faith's middle name is a combination of the middle names of Destiny and her 1-year-old sister Trinity. Destiny's middle name was Ann, like her mother's. Trinity's middle name is Lee, like her father's.

The combined name was suggested by Destiny, Brooks said.

"They couldn't figure out a middle name, so Destiny said, 'Why don't you just call her LeeAnn?"' he said.

Destiny Norton was last seen playing in her back yard on July 16. Her disappearance launched a massive, eight-day volunteer search across the Salt Lake Valley.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Rachael Norton suffered premature labor pains. Eight months pregnant, she was supposed to be on bed rest. The search for her daughter kept her moving.

"I just can't sleep and give up on my kid," she said at the time.

On July 24, Destiny's body was found two doors away from where she vanished — in the basement of a neighbor, Craig Roger Gregerson.

Prosecutors allege Gregerson lured her into his home, smothered her and then sexually assaulted her body. Police said he admitted to an FBI agent that he had been fantasizing about kidnapping Destiny and had plotted it out at one point.

Gregerson, 20, is charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense, and first-degree felony child kidnapping. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 3 for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty should Gregerson be convicted.

He remains in the Salt Lake County Jail on $5.5 million bail.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com