Authorities in Utah and Wyoming are hoping the public can help them locate a person of interest in the recent homicide of a 15-year-old girl.
According to KUTV, the unidentified victim’s body was located inside a Salt Lake City residence Monday afternoon by police who were dispatched to the location in response to a welfare check.
The discovery came at about 3 p.m., and authorities announced a short time later that her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Later in the day, police released the name of a person of interest and the type of vehicle he might be driving.
Shaun French is described as a 24-year-old man possibly driving a camouflage colored 1991 Daihatsu Rocky. Officials believe he might be heading to Wyoming, where members of his family live. The vehicle’s plate number, 19-13974, is registered in Wyoming.
Though police do not have a photograph of the vehicle, the Salt Lake City Police Department published an image of an SUV with a similar pattern along with images of French.
#PersonOfInterest in today's #Homicide looking for Shaun French 24, may be driving a Daihatsu Rocky 1991, camouflage in color, Wyo listing 19-13974. Picture of vehicle is not actual vehicle. If you see a vehicle matching this description or know where Shaun is call 801-799-3000. pic.twitter.com/BlCiwptKrv
— SLC Police Dept. (@slcpd) May 8, 2018
Authorities are soliciting tips from the public, but warn citizens to treat the person of interest as armed and dangerous.
“If you know where Shaun is call 801-799-3000,” police wrote.
The teen victim has been identified as Baleigh Bagshaw. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, her mother was on the phone with her and overheard the brutal attack.
A subsequent update by police indicates that an “active warrant for Unlawful Sexual Acts with a Minor” is outstanding against French.
“The warrant stems from previous contact with the victim,” police confirmed.
[Featured image: Shaun French/Salt Lake City Police Department]
