Man reports missing mother: Police discover blood in bedroom floor

A Utah man has been taken into custody concerning the missing persons case of his mother and her companion, who are presumed deceased by authorities.

Matthew Leonard, 28, informed the police about his mother, 50-year-old Sarah Johnson, being missing on March 26, as stated by the Springville Police Department. 

The authorities revealed on April 6 that she was last seen in her Springville, Utah, residence on March 20, alongside 50-year-old John Handricks. Handricks was also noted as missing from Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Following an investigation at the house in Springville and discussions with witnesses, officials believe that Johnson and Handricks "may have been shot and killed."

Weeks following the disappearance of Johnson and Handricks, the police detained Leonard, who now faces two charges of aggravated murder.

As per court records reviewed by local NBC channel KSL, Leonard had caught the attention of law enforcement prior to his mother's and Handricks' reported vanishing. 

The police stated that Leonard was detained on March 9 for charges related to electronic communication harassment. 

Allegedly, he sent multiple texts and made numerous calls to his girlfriend, also the mother of his child, even after being asked to cease. He allegedly sent her "11 texts and made 11 phone calls… all occurring within 90 minutes of being instructed to stop."

The authorities noted some of Leonard's messages contained threats towards his own safety, and he exhibited signs of paranoia in the subsequent days. 

The girlfriend sought a protective order against Leonard on March 13, according to the police.

When Handricks was reported missing by an acquaintance to the Salt Lake City police on March 23, it was stated that his last sighting with Johnson was on March 20. 

Officers approached Leonard on March 26 for inquiries about Handricks’ encounter with his mother. That day, Leonard submitted documents to declare Johnson missing.

Leonard admitted guilt on the harassment accusation on April 7, a day following Springville police acquiring "unverified" reports that Johnson and Handricks were no longer alive. 

As detailed in the court documents, Johnson’s father informed the police that his granddaughter had received a text from a friend indicating Johnson "was shot and her body was still undiscovered."

Authorities mentioned that witnesses saw Johnson and Handricks at the Springville property with Leonard on March 20, and one witness reportedly heard potential gunshots inside the building.

Per the court records, detectives performed a house search on April 11. Upon investigating inside, they discovered "blood traces, bullet casings, and a projectile." Blood traces were seen in Johnson’s bedroom, "embedded within the floor planks' grooves." 

Substantial blood concentration was allegedly located against two different walls in the same room, leading detectives to suspect that the individuals were deceased. The detectives noticed signs of an attempt to clean the blood and believe Leonard "disposed of the remains."

KSL announced that the Utah County Attorney’s Office requested further time to collect evidence preceding formal charges against Leonard for two counts of aggravated murder.