( People )
An Idaho man found naked on a snowy road in 2023 near the body of his 10-month-old son, just days after his pregnant wife was fatally shot, has admitted to murdering them both.
Jeremy Best, 50, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13 to first-degree murder in the death of his son, Zeke Best, and second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Kali Randall Best, 39, and her unborn child Freya, prosecuting attorneys for Teton and Bonneville Counties wrote in a joint news release.
As People previously reported, the grisly crime began to unfold at 11:55 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2023, when the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a naked man walking through the Swan Valley General Store in Swan Lake, police said in a press release at the time.
The man, identified as Best, was taken to a local hospital where he was evaluated for mental health and medical concerns. He was treated and released.
That night, Best’s wife was found unresponsive at the couple’s home in Victor after a 911 dispatcher in Teton County heard a “disturbance” during the call, police said.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, authorities heard a female's voice on the 911 call saying "Jeremy, no, Jeremy no."
A man can be heard in the background saying, "Get the f**k back, you’re going to get shot,” and “I love you, love you, love you," according to the affidavit.
Kali Best was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene.
When authorities realized the couple’s son was missing, they named Best as a suspect in connection with his wife’s death and for allegedly kidnapping baby Zeke. Authorities issued an Amber Alert for the baby at the time.
Two days later, a group of hunters called 911 when they found Best in a sleeping bag on the side of the road near Idaho Falls and recognized him as the man wanted by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office.
Best had been heard making “odd statements” that morning, authorities said. Police found Best's black Chevy SUV parked down an embankment.
Near Best, they found the baby, whose throat had been cut, authorities said.
Best’s attorney, Jim Archibald, said Best suffered a mental breakdown which led to the murders, KSL.com reported.
Best could face the rest of his life behind bars. Prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty under the terms of the plea agreement.
Best is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23.
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