$25,000 reward offered in Payson slaying

PAYSON — The family of a man killed during a home invasion in Payson Canyon is offering a $25,000 cash reward for information leading to suspects' arrests.

Kay Mortensen, 70, a former BYU professor, was killed when police say two men invaded his Payson Canyon home last week, tied up his son and daughter-in-law and slit his throat.

Investigators are continuing to follow leads and have interviewed several "persons of interest," but Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said there have been no new developments.

The cash reward offering is posted on the Utah County Web site, with the family promising the money to the person who calls the tip line at 801-851-4010 with information leading to the suspects' arrest and conviction.

"We plead for anyone with information to come forward," the family said in the statement.

Cannon said cash rewards could be very helpful in moving an investigation forward. But he warned, "We can't take what information that comes forth at face value.

"The end result is we hope we can find something useful," he said.

— Lana Groves