On what should have been a festive Easter weekend, the life of Mindee LaVell Mastronardi Elmore, a 41-year-old Caucasian female from Ogden, Utah, was tragically cut short. On April 3, 2021, Mindee was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Smith's grocery store on Harrison Boulevard. The incident that unfolded in broad daylight sent shockwaves through the local community.
Mindee, a loving mother to her two children, Christopher Daniel Jr.
and Jaylene LaVell, was a cherished daughter, sister, and friend. Known for her infectious laugh and magnetic smile, she was a popular server at Andy's Club, where she was adored by coworkers and customers alike. She had a passion for writing, fine arts, cooking, hiking, and music. In the year leading up to her death, she had found happiness with her new love, Clyde Conley.
The man responsible for Mindee's death was her ex-boyfriend, Seth Gibson. After their breakup about a year prior, it is believed that jealousy fueled his violent actions. On that Saturday afternoon, Gibson confronted Mindee in the grocery store parking lot. The argument escalated, and Gibson shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene. Mindee succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Following the shooting, a manhunt for Gibson ensued. He was quickly located in the front yard of a home several miles away. A tense, hours-long standoff with police and a SWAT team followed, during which nearby homes were evacuated. As law enforcement attempted to negotiate his surrender, Gibson turned the gun on himself. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound days later. The tragic event was compounded when Mindee's distraught boyfriend, Clyde Conley, died by suicide on Easter Sunday, unable to bear the loss.
