In the early morning hours of February 18, 2015, the quiet of an Orem, Utah neighborhood was shattered by a tragic act of violence that claimed the life of 64-year-old White male, Anthony "Holden" Sorenson. Sorenson died in what police would later describe as a murder-suicide. The incident unfolded at approximately 5:40 a.m. inside a home near 475 E. 950 North.
The perpetrator was identified as 24-year-old Riley Mecham.
Sorenson was the live-in boyfriend of Mecham's grandmother, and all three resided in the same house, along with Mecham's mother. According to authorities, the relationship between Sorenson and Mecham was strained, with reports indicating that the two men did not like each other. This animosity is believed to be the primary motive behind the tragic events.
On that fateful morning, Mecham armed himself with a shotgun and went to an upstairs room where he shot and killed Sorenson. Following the shooting, Mecham went downstairs and encountered his mother. He instructed her to lock herself in her room because he intended to take his own life. Mecham then used an AR-15 rifle to kill himself.
Police were dispatched to the home and upon arrival, they discovered the bodies of both Sorenson and Mecham. The subsequent investigation led authorities to conclude that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide, with Mecham as the sole suspect. No other individuals were harmed during the incident. As Mecham died by his own hand, no arrests were made in connection with Sorenson's death.
