"We're deeply saddened by the recent developments. Deborah had nothing but love and compassion for others. As a nurse she took care of patients and really cared about her job. Although we're not sure it's a homicide, we're pretty sure what happened," he said.

Bryan Jones added, "The person responsible is a despicable piece of human flesh. He's a monster, and we all hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. ... He took something precious from us — someone who can never be replaced."

Deborah Jones and Doyel lived together for six months until she broke up with him and told him to move out of her Highland Park home east of Sugar House about two weeks ago.

On April 16, Deborah Jones went to Salt Lake police to report a possible fraud involving Doyel, Burbank said. She believed Doyel was using some of her credit cards. At that time, she mentioned he had been making harassing phone calls but was not worried that her life was in danger, he said.

Jeff Jones, Deborah's son, said that after his mother and Doyel broke up, Doyel made several threatening phone calls, some violent in nature.

Police arranged for her to come back the next day to talk to them and to go to court to get a civil stalking injunction against Doyel, Burbank said. That was the last time, however, that police saw her.

On Friday, a friend received a call from Jones, Burbank said. He did not know from where she was calling, but it was the last time anyone heard from her.

After her family reported Jones missing Saturday night, police searched the immediate area and then put a description of her and her vehicle on NCIC, a national information database for police, so officers in any state could look for her. An endangered person advisory was issued Sunday for Jones.

Branson police received a call from Salt Lake investigators Monday night, telling them they had developed information that Doyel might be headed to that area. Burbank declined Tuesday to say how that information was developed.

By 9 p.m. CST, Jones' car was found at a motel on west highway 76, according to Branson police.

Burbank said he did not know what happened in Salt Lake City that brought Doyel and Jones together.

A neighbor of Patricia Murray told the Deseret News that Michael Doyel first appeared in their gated development two months ago as a guest of another resident, his ex-wife Joann Doyel.

Mary Ann Griess said she saw Michael Doyel frequently.

"He was constantly in the clubhouse," Griess said. "He talked to me quite a bit. ... He wanted to go out with me; I never went out with him."