Man arrested, accused of killing girlfriend

SALT LAKE CITY — A 42-year-old Salt Lake City man was arrested Saturday in connection with the slaying of his girlfriend.

Todd Eugene Anderson was booked into Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of homicide after police found the body of Jennifer Schubach, 39, in a residence at 532 N. 200 West Friday afternoon, according to Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Shawn Josephson. 

Anderson "confessed to killing his girlfriend by strangling her with his arms," according to a probable cause statement.

Police were called to check on the welfare of the woman around 4:30 p.m., and police responded to find her dead in the home.

"The call came from an individual who had enough information to be concerned," Josephson said. "It did not come from the place where the body was found."

The death was initially classified as suspicious, but police said evidence at the crime scene was consistent with a strangulation. 

The couple apparently had been fighting, but police said it was not clear what caused the altercation. 

Josephson said the couple had been dating, but he did not know whether they were living together. He also was unsure as to whether they were longtime residents of the apartment.

Lynda Cooley, Schubach's former stepmother, described the woman as smart, popular and "incredibly beautiful." Schubach used to model for ZCMI department stores, Cooley said.

"She was fun, real bubbly as a little girl — just a darling," Cooley said. "It's a great tragedy."

She said the woman has two daughters who live in the area. 

A search of state court records show Anderson has a history of minor offenses in the state dating back to 1992 that ranges from criminal mischief charges to disturbing the peace.

Schubach entered a guilty plea in abeyance earlier this year to two counts of criminal mischief involving intentional damage to property, both class A misdemeanors.

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