On May 5, 1977, 18-year-old Valaine Briggs vanished from Salt Lake City, Utah, in broad daylight. Two days later, her body was discovered in Lambs Canyon. To this day, her killer has still not been brought to justice.
Valaine Briggs grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana. She was active in the church and was popular in school. Her family described her as hard-working, loyal, caring, sincere, and intelligent.
After graduating from high school, Valaine went to Brigham Young University (BYU). She wanted to become a stenographer, but BYU didn’t have the courses she needed to take, so she transferred to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City.
The school is now known as Ensign College. Her roommate said she was sweet and that they never had arguments about anything.
On May 5, 1977, Valaine went to class and had a conversation with a classmate. After class, she began the short walk back to her apartment. She had made plans to meet up with one of her roommates, but she never showed.
At first, the roommate thought Valaine had gotten held up at school. But as the day went on with no word from Valaine, her roommates became worried.
It was out of character for her not to show up or let anyone know about a change in plans. Valaine was reported missing that night.
The Salt Lake City Police Department searched the area thoroughly and interviewed her roommates and classmates. Her loved ones also drove around, looking for her.
They all agreed that Valaine would never have willingly gone off with someone she didn’t know. Something terrible must have happened.
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Two days later, on May 7, four hikers found Valaine’s body in Lambs Canyon, which is located about 20 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. That was when her case was transferred to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Some of Valaine’s belongings, including her school books, were found nearby. Her body was taken to the medical examiner’s office.
Her death was ruled a homicide. She was strangled with a cord about a quarter-inch thick, and her hands and feet were bound. A green plastic trash bag covered part of her body, and there were signs of assault.
Valaine’s family heard about her death on the news instead of receiving a call from authorities. Her funeral was held in Montana. Plenty of people came to show their support. They had to line up around the block to get in for the viewing.
Initially, the police looked into Valaine’s boyfriend, Scott, as a suspect. She met him during her senior year of high school. He had a confirmed alibi and consented to a DNA test. Authorities found no connection to the case and ruled him out as a suspect.
Over the years, other leads have emerged, but none of them panned out. Sadly, Valaine’s parents died without learning what happened to their daughter. Valaine’s family members are hopeful that technological advancements in DNA testing will help with finding answers.
Anyone with information about Valaine’s murder is urged to contact Detective Ben Pender at 385-468-9816.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
