3 who died in fire are mourned in Kearns

KEARNS — Forgiveness was the key message left for family and friends as they witnessed, through tear-filled eyes, the matching light-brown coffins of Christopher, James and Mariah Jessop being carried through the bright, sun-filled doorways of the Kearns Valley View Ward.

The placing of the coffins into waiting hearses following Tuesday's funeral service caused many to weep and retreat into the arms of loved ones.

"I struggled for several days to decide what to say," said Dellane Jessop, father of Christopher and grandfather of James and Mariah. "Forgiveness — we can be bitter and choose fault and blame and to be angry ... or we can take the high ground."

Family members paid tribute to Christopher — the man they called son, brother, uncle and friend — and expressed fond memories of his children, James, 4, and Mariah, 3.

The three were found dead Aug. 1 inside the back seat of Christopher's charred Jeep. The vehicle was discovered at a remote gas station on the Skull Valley Indian Reservation in Tooele County. Gasoline, used as an accelerant, was found inside the vehicle.

Autopsies determined the three died of burns and smoke-inhalation in what police are investigating as a possible double-murder suicide. The primary suspect was inside the car, according to previous statements made by Tooele County Sheriff Frank Park.

The 30-year-old Jessop had separated from his wife, Mary, shortly before the incident. He had picked up his children from day care and spent dinner at his brother's. Authorities said there were no previous events reported that gave any indication of what was about to happen.

"These tragic events are so unfair, unfortunate, senseless and seemingly impossible to deal with," Jeromy Jessop, Christopher's brother, said in a written statement. "What our family lost cannot be measured and can never be replaced."

As heavy-hearted family and friends turned from the caskets, a soft wind rustled the leaves of surrounding trees. The calm blue sky, spotted by white clouds, reflected the sentiments expressed by Christopher's mother to her husband. "I had a feeling I could make it (through the day) today," she had told him.

"From that moment, everything changed for us," the grieving father said of his wife's resilience. "I choose to believe the positive. I choose to believe in the good of people."

A memorial fund has been established for the family. Contributions can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank under the names of Christopher, James and Mariah Jessop.

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E-mail: nhale@desnews.com