Utah mom takes toddler son on a canyon drive, shoots him, then drives around with his body: Cops

A Utah mother has been jailed for investigation of aggravated murder and child abuse after Uintah County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a shooting and found her toddler son dead.

Valerie Peck, 40, also apparently shot herself after killing 2-year-old Zack, the sheriff’s office said.

Peck and her son were found near Fantasy Canyon in central Uintah County, but investigators said the shooting took place further north in the Dry Fork Canyon area.

How do you protect your children from predators? Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course ‘Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here’.

Deputies said Peck had taken Zack on a drive to the Dry Fork area, stopping at a camping area north of the canyon. The two spent “some time in the area,” the sheriff’s office said, before Peck put Zack in the back of her vehicle and shot him with a 22-caliber rifle.

After killing her son, Peck shot herself, then drove around the county for several hours, eventually ending up in the Fantasy Canyon area, where deputies found her.

Peck was treated at a local hospital and released on Tuesday, when she was taken into custody.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast:

Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most – your children.

[Featured image: Valerie Peck/Uintah County Sheriff’s Office]