In the early morning hours of July 6, 2019, a camping trip in the scenic Payson Canyon took a tragic turn, ending the life of 27-year-old Ethan Larry Bertrum Timoko. The events unfolded at the Maple Bench Campground, where Timoko, a male resident of Orem, Utah, was camping with his ex-girlfriend, Nakylee Hope Marvin, their young daughter, another man, and another child.
According to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Timoko and Marvin had been engaged in a heated argument for several
hours. Just before the fatal incident, Timoko was sitting inside a vehicle while Marvin stood outside the window, continuing the discussion. In a sudden and devastating act, Timoko used a handgun to shoot himself in the head.
The gunshot was instantly fatal to Timoko. Tragically, the bullet exited the vehicle and struck the 24-year-old Marvin in the neck. Despite the quick response of Payson Fire & Rescue and AirMed, her injuries proved to be critical, and she could not be saved. The other man present at the campsite heard the gunshot and immediately called 911; he and the two children were unharmed.
Investigators from the Utah County Sheriff's Office processed the scene and conducted an inquiry into the deaths. Their investigation concluded that Timoko's death was a suicide and Marvin's death was a tragic accident resulting from the same gunshot. The case was not pursued as a criminal matter involving any other suspects, and consequently, no arrests were made. Both bodies were transported to the Medical Examiner's Office for official examination. The incident left a young daughter without both of her parents.
