Crystal Michelle Turner, 38, and Kylen Carrol Schulte, 24, were found fatally shot near their Utah campsite on 18 August 2021. (YouTube/FOX 13 News Utah, Courtesy: Bridget Calvert)
A newlywed couple were found dead near their campsite in Utah after telling friends they were “creeped” out by a “weirdo” man nearby.
Crystal Michelle Turner, 38, and Kylen Carrol Schulte, 24, were reported missing and found shot dead days later on Wednesday (18 August) at the South Mesa area of the La Sal Loop Road in Grand County, Utah, according to a statement from the Grand County sheriff’s office.
According to KUTV, the couple’s bodies were discovered by a friend who went looking for them after they didn’t return from their camping trip.
Schulte’s aunt, Bridget Calvert, told Fox 13 that the two women had gotten married just four months ago and were well-loved by the local community. She described her niece as someone who was always positive.
“Her having such a beautiful soul, to see it complimented with someone like Crystal – that they could really enjoy life and do it together,” Calvert said.
Calvert told KUTV that friends contacted the family, telling them Turner and Schulte had talked about a man “creeping them out” near their campsite. They brought up the man once again when they met up with friends the Saturday before they went missing.
“Friday evening, they were with friends and told them there was a creepy guy at their campsite, just: ‘This guy creeped us out, might have to move,’” Calvert said.
“Saturday, they told their friends ‘there’s been this creepy guy at our site, we’re definitely moving campsites today’.”
St George Spectrum & Daily News reported that Schulte’s father, Sean-Paul, posted on Facebook about how the couple told “close friends that there was a weirdo camping near them that was freaking out”.
The Grand County sheriff’s office has called in the FBI and the State Bureau of Investigation to assist in the investigation into the couple’s deaths.
Sheriff Steven White told Fox 13 that this is one of the largest investigations the office has ever undertaken and that deputies have been asked to work extra hours and shifts to assist in the investigation.
“Just know that everything is being done that we can possibly do, that is why we have asked for the additional resources,” he said. “We want to make sure we do it thorough, we do it complete, and we do it right.”
A GoFundMe campaign established to cover Schulte’s funeral costs raised over $32,000, more than double its initial target.