Logan City Police arrest Hyrum man in connection with homicide investigation

The Logan City Police Department arrested 41-year-old Stacey Willis, of Hyrum, in connection with the slaying of Merrilee Cox-Lafferty Saturday night.

Update Sept. 18

Willis was charged with aggravated murder and five other crimes Monday, when he also appeared in front of First District Judge Kevin Allen.

Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen said Cox-Lafferty’s body was discovered in Blacksmith Fork Canyon about eight miles off the paved road, though he declined to give more detail on her location, because investigators are still seeking evidence in the area.

Though police did not provide much detail about the investigation, Logan City Police Chief Gary Jensen said once investigators found Cox-Lafferty’s body, “we felt very strongly that we had a case where we were able to make an arrest on Mr. Willis.”

Officers made a traffic stop on Willis Friday night in the Ridley’s parking lot in Hyrum, and arrested him at gunpoint.

“It was not our best wishes, but it is how it happened, and we were able to do what we did,” Jensen said in a press conference. “I know that is difficult for the public and sometimes even offensive, but I hope they will understand that we had what we felt was a dangerous man and that even if it felt like a heavy show of force, it was necessary to be safe in his capture.”

Court records show Willis has previously been convicted of five felonies spanning from 2000 to 2014. Jensen did not provide detail on the relationship between Cox-Lafferty and Willis, but said the two “were not strangers.”

According to a written statement by the LCPD, Cox-Lafferty was reported missing on Aug. 21, and after a series of “investigation, social media posts, interviews, area canvassing and other efforts,” the case was ruled as a homicide, and Cox-Lafferty was found deceased in Cache County.

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