Neighborhood mourns Lehi woman who was gunned down at an LDS church

LEHI — Bitter tears stinging faces red from emotion and the winter chill, friends of a woman slain Sunday spent Monday honoring her memory by wrapping pink ribbons around trees, fences and posts in her Lehi neighborhood.

Witnesses say David Lester Ragsdale, 35, shot his wife in the back several times and once in the head, killing Kristy Koreen Ragsdale on her 30th birthday and endangering others in a Mormon church parking lot in Lehi.

One witness said the 6-foot-4, 200-pound man then stood directly over his estranged wife three days after he was served with divorce papers and shot her more than once from very close range. A total of 10 shots were fired.

A prosecutor said Monday the state is considering a capital murder charge against David Ragsdale.

When she filed a request for a temporary protective order in early December, Kristy Ragsdale had stated that her 35-year-old husband had "threatened to use his gun several times."

Those and other details emerged Monday while Kristy Ragsdale's neighbors remained in shock a day after they heard of her sudden and violent death — on her 30th birthday. The shooting took place just after 11 a.m. in the parking lot of a ward house of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1631 E. 900 North.

In a statement issued Monday through a spokesman, the LDS Church expressed shock and sympathy about the events that led to Ragsdale's death.

"We are shocked and dismayed at the senseless act of violence that took the life of Sister Kristy Koreen Ragsdale and shattered the peace and endangered hundreds of worshippers on a quiet Sabbath morning," said Scott Trotter, a church spokesman. "Our sympathy and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragedy, especially the family and friends of all those involved. We pray they will find peace and comfort in the promises of the Lord, that death is not final, and that life is eternal."

Ragsdale surrendered to Lehi police and was arrested for investigation of aggravated capital murder. He was booked into the Utah County Jail on Sunday at 11:15 p.m.

"I will miss her friendship the most," said neighbor Susan Radi, who was helping put up the pink ribbons." She was so easy and open to talk to."

Susan's daughter, Ashley Radi, said Kristy Ragsdale was a good friend, easy to talk to, eager to listen. "She was great," Ashley Radi said.

Like other folks in the Lehi neighborhood, many of whom attend the Lehi 17th Ward, the Radis remained stunned at the events that led to Kristy Ragsdale's death.