From Deseret News archives:

Capital murder counts likely in Clinton killing

Man is jailed after woman is slain in home

Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2003 7:45 a.m. MDT
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Prosecutors have decided to pursue capital murder charges against a man arrested for murdering his ex-girlfriend in her Clinton home Monday morning.

The Davis County Attorney's Office is expected today to file charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder and evading police against Trovon Ross in Farmington's 1st District Court, criminal division chief deputy Bill McGuire said late Tuesday.

Ross, 29, was booked Monday into the Davis County Jail for investigation of killing Annalee Christensen, 23, and injuring her boyfriend, James Thomas May, during an early morning shooting rampage.

"He killed one person and in the same course or conduct attempted to kill another," McGuire said of prosecutors' reasons for planning to charge Ross with a capital offense.

Aggravated murder is a capital offense, punishable by the death penalty, life in prison without parole or life in prison with the possibility of parole. McGuire said it was still too early to determine if prosecutors would pursue the death penalty against Ross.

"We'll make that evaluation at some time in the future, but as of now that's our anticipation," McGuire said.

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During an interview following her daughter's death, Christensen's family said their biggest concern was keeping Christensen's abusive ex-boyfriend off the streets. Christensen had tried several times to leave the relationship, only to have her boyfriend become violent, family members said.

"I would like him to never get out of prison, ever," her mother Julie Linford said.

"There's really nothing that can happen to Trovon that will make things better," Christensen's stepfather, Layne Linford, said. "We just want to make sure he doesn't have a chance to do the same thing to somebody else." Investigators have searched the van the shooter used to flee from Christensen's house, 1129 W. 1640 North, following the murder, which occurred sometime before 6:30 a.m., Clinton Police Chief Bill Chilson said. Neighbors reported seeing the van back over a mailbox before driving away. Ross was arrested by three Clearfield police officers who spotted his van shortly after the shooting.

Authorities also completed searching Christensen's home for clues on Monday and planned to keep the house sealed off as a crime scene for the next day or two, Chilson said.

Police found three shell casings in a southeast corner bedroom of the house where Christensen was shot at close range in the back of the head, neck and abdomen, Chilson said.

"It wasn't a contact wound, but it was close — within probably 3 to 7 feet," Chilson said.

May fled from the house shortly before Christensen was murdered but did hear two shots as he left the scene, Chilson said. May was shot at as he fled, with one bullet hitting a neighboring garage and lodging in the wall of another home, and another bullet hitting May in the arm. He was was released Tuesday from Davis Hospital and Medical Center.

McGuire called him an "excellent witness."

"We think we've got some good evidence to support and corroborate what Mr. May has told us," McGuire said.

Police recovered six shell casings in Christensen's driveway and found what appeared to be the murder weapon — a .380 automatic gun — along the getaway route, Chilson said.

Ross remained in the Davis County Jail Tuesday and is expected to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon after charges are filed.


E-MAIL: djensen@desnews.com

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