Brooklyn Michelle Barrett, a 21-year-old Caucasian female, died on April 30, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, Utah, under tragic and unusual circumstances. Her death was the result of a planned suicide pact with a friend, which ultimately was not carried out by the other individual. The events of that day unfolded after police received a 911 call from the father of Heavenly Faith Garfield, 22, who reported that his daughter had shot and killed her friend.
Upon arriving at the residence on East
Propeller Row, authorities discovered Barrett deceased in her bed from a single gunshot wound to the head. She was covered with a blanket, and flowers had been laid on the bed around her. An unloaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and one shell casing were found on the nightstand. Investigators also located a note, written and signed by both Barrett and Garfield, which detailed their mutual intention to die by suicide. The plan, as described by Garfield's father and later confirmed by other evidence, was for one to fatally shoot the other before taking her own life.
The subsequent investigation revealed further evidence of the pact. A friend of Barrett's provided police with screenshots of text messages in which Barrett expressed suicidal ideations and discussed the plan with Garfield. This friend was aware of the pact between the two women. Photos were also found showing Barrett and Garfield purchasing the firearm together. After shooting Barrett at her request, Garfield did not go through with taking her own life. Days after the incident, Garfield's sister provided police with the second bullet, which Garfield had given to her, stating it was the one she had intended to use on herself.
Heavenly Faith Garfield was arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder and discharge of a firearm. In September 2024, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, specifically under a provision that criminalizes aiding another person's suicide. In exchange for her guilty plea, the murder and firearm charges were dropped. During the sentencing, Barrett's mother expressed her grief but also offered forgiveness to Garfield. On November 6, 2024, a judge sentenced Garfield to a term of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison, stating that while the circumstances warranted mercy, which was shown in the plea deal, a prison sentence was just for the gravity of the offense.
