On a tragic afternoon in Sandy, Utah, the life of Memorez Clark Rackley, a 39-year-old Caucasian female, was violently cut short. On June 6, 2017, what began as a walk home from school with her two young sons turned into a scene of terror. The series of events that led to her death began to unfold near Brookwood Elementary School, culminating in a fatal encounter with a man from her past.
In the days preceding the attack, Memorez had grown increasingly fearful of her ex-boyfriend,
32-year-old Jeremy Patterson. Their relationship had ended on June 1, and in the following days, Patterson began a campaign of harassment and threats against her and her children. Memorez contacted the police on June 3, reporting that Patterson was stalking and threatening her. He had confronted her and her son, threatened to kill the boy, and posted explicit images of her online. Despite her pleas for help, she was advised on how to obtain a protective order, a measure that was not easily accessible because she and Patterson had never married or lived together. Friends of Patterson had also contacted police, warning them of his threats to kill Rackley and then himself.
The situation escalated horrifically on that Tuesday afternoon. As Memorez and her sons, 11-year-old Myles and 6-year-old Jase, were walking, they were confronted by Patterson. A concerned woman driving by with her own daughter saw the argument and offered Memorez and her sons a ride to safety in her SUV. Patterson, however, pursued them in his truck. After a few blocks, he rammed the SUV, exited his vehicle, and opened fire.
Memorez and her youngest son, Jase, were both killed in the shooting. Her older son, Myles, and the Good Samaritan's young daughter were injured but survived. The sole suspect in this violent act, Jeremy Patterson, then turned the gun on himself, ending his own life at the scene. Because the perpetrator died by suicide, no arrests were made in connection with the murders. The tragic event highlighted gaps in legal protections for victims of dating violence and ultimately led to legislative changes in Utah to expand the definition of domestic violence.
