This story beforehand aired on March 9, 2013. It was up to date on Dec. 20, 2025.
When the Tiede household headed off to spend a snowy Christmas at their distant household cabin, they’d no concept what the journey would convey. Two sisters who survive a harrowing dwelling invasion share the terrifying story of their first prolonged tv interview.
Linae Tiede: My household owns an attractive cabin in Oakley, Utah. The sound of the river, the horses which are down within the pasture, the birds — it is completely heaven on earth to me.
My mother had given it a reputation: “Tiede’s Tranquility,” due to the serenity and peace.
Trish Tiede: The cabin was an superior place to go to.
As a younger baby, I beloved going up there, bringing aunts and uncles, and cousins.
The cabin was about two-and-a-half miles off the street. … And you need to snowmobile in throughout the wintertime. It was an escape from the world for our household.
Trish Tiede: It was the winter of 1990.
Linae Tiede: I used to be 20 years outdated. And my little sister was 16.
Trish Tiede: It was Christmastime. We’re off for the vacations.
Trish Tiede: There’s a big Christmas tree with a lot of items round it.
Linae Tiede: My mother even had our Christmas stockings hung underneath the hearth mantel, prepared for Santa to come back (smiles on the reminiscence).
“Tiede’s Tranquility” Shattered
Three days earlier than Christmas, our household needed to end up our Christmas buying and head again as much as the household cabin.
My mother and Grams and I arrived on the cabin — first.
And my arms have been freezing. … it was a bitter chilly winter that yr. I requested my mother to rush … and unlock the door. I wanted to run in and run my arms underneath some water and I might be proper again down to assist her.
I acquired to the highest of the stair … and I noticed a grey flash … go behind the fridge. And the primary thought that popped in my thoughts was, “Oh, a cousin’s right here already” … and was going to leap out and say boo! … It did not flip that approach.
Behind the fridge got here … a frizzy headed man … in a grey sweatshirt along with his pistol pointed at me. I assumed that he would simply need to rob us. And be on his approach.
As quickly as my mother got here to the highest of the steps, out from the again bed room, one other robber … with actually thick, coke-bottle glasses on was pointing a g — gun at my mom.
Crime scene photographs: Lethal Utah dwelling invasion
34 photographs
My mother was saying to ’em, “What’s it you need? Why are you right here? I am going to offer you something.” … Seconds after she had stated that, gunfire began imploding, exploding, explosion. From in all places I noticed my mother go down. I turned at that time. And regarded over my shoulder to my Grams. And noticed her get shot within the head. And blood spray in all places. … I heard her gasp for some breath.
After which it was simply useless silence. I felt fairly sure that they have been useless.
My ideas have been turned … to figuring out that inside minutes my dad and sister could be coming.
I can keep in mind listening to snowmobiles coming within the distance. And my coronary heart sinking to my intestine. Realizing that [emotional] that was my dad and sister.
Linae Tiede: It felt like sluggish movement and fast, suddenly. … I can keep in mind the screams and Grams falling off the … stool. And my mother reaching over her chest, “I would been shot.”
One other Capturing and the Cabin Set Ablaze
I began to suppose, plan forward. I knew that there was a automobile. And I knew my dad left the automobile keys beneath the mat. … I knew that if we acquired these males out of the cabin and into the automobile that my dad and my sister could be protected.
Because the noise of the snowmobiles grew to become nearer, the person within the grey sweatshirt grabbed me from behind. Across the neck. Put his gun to my again.
Trish Tiede: Dad and I arrived on the cabin … As quickly as we acquired off the snowmobiles, a person jumped out from the storage with a full ski masks on and a gun and demanded that we come inside immediately.
“Do not transfer, do not transfer. Do not transfer, do not do something.”
Linae Tiede: My dad might see tears in my eyes. And it was an unstated communication. And he knew, at that time, that one thing terrible had occurred to mother and Grams.
The lads requested my dad if he had any cash. He reached into his pockets and pulled out what he had. And threw it right down to the bottom.
The person within the coke-bottle glasses was instructed by the opposite to shoot my dad. He pulled again the hammer. I heard it. And he refused to fireplace.
Trish Tiede: So then the opposite man restraining my sister pulled his gun out, pointed it at my dad … pulled the set off. As soon as, click on, no hearth. Twice, click on, no hearth. … After which, a 3rd one … that blast was — it was so shut, I might really feel it.
Linae Tiede: I had little doubt, in my thoughts, that he was useless. Identical to mother and Grams. I used to be terrified to suppose that the trauma wouldn’t cease. It saved going [sighs].
It did not make any sense to me. I had no concept what was taking place or why.
These males that have been within the cabin. I knew that they’d been there for some time. There was meals eaten, there was Christmas presents open, it wasn’t simply that we walked in and startled them or scared them. That they had really … waited for our household to return dwelling.
Their plan was to destroy their proof, burn it to the bottom.
There was all the time gasoline cans out there. Stuffed with gasoline. For the snowmobiles.
Trish Tiede: They instantly acquired busy doing issues.
Linae Tiede: They poured gasoline in all places and set the cabin on hearth.
I can keep in mind listening to the smoke alarms going off as the fireplace was already blazing within the cabin.
Trish Tiede: There was a way of urgency to get out of there. They started telling us we acquired to rush and cargo the snowmobiles and get out of right here.
I had this sense inside me that we would have liked to hear and do what they stated till the second got here to the place Linae and I might make our escape.
Linae Tiede: My sister and I drove these terrible males on the snowmobiles out of the cabin. … I drove one man behind me and my sister drove the opposite man behind her.
Trish Tiede: I had every kind of various plans of — of learn how to wreck the snowmobile, learn how to throw him off right into a tree, learn how to do away with him. However all I might consider is I could not depart my sister.
Linae Tiede: I can keep in mind wanting to remain shut sufficient that I might nonetheless see my sister, that I … felt a way of safety, figuring out that she was nonetheless — nonetheless there.
Trish Tiede: There was nobody to assist us. There was nowhere to go. We have been in the course of the mountains on snowmobiles.
Linae Tiede: We headed as much as the principle gate. And noticed my Uncle Randy.
Randy Zorn | Uncle: I seen the snowmobiles come up the path, two snowmobiles, and I’m going, “Look, there are my nieces! …I knew it was the ladies with two folks on the again. And I’m going, wow! They acquired boyfriends!”
I walked over there and tried to greet ’em … and say hello. And I wave my arms in there and — they simply drove by me and I’m going hmm … that is bizarre. … that is not my nieces. They do not try this to me.
Trish Tiede: I noticed my uncle. My uncle had pulled up and he waved at us, we simply kinda checked out him and turned again. And the boys stated, “Who was that?” “Anyone that should dwell up right here being good.”
I knew his life might be in peril. I knew if these males knew Randy was our uncle there that they might have killed him.
Rescued
Trish Tiede: We have been up there within the mountains, there was nobody round.
It was simply my sister and I and two males that have been harmful and had a gun. There was — a sense of being utterly susceptible.
After we reached the household automobile, they’d two weapons; every of them had a gun. The dark-headed man loaded his gun within the trunk. And as he loaded his gun within the trunk, he pulled his jacket open, and he had a knife. And he checked out me, goes, “Don’t be concerned, I am simply pretty much as good with a knife as I’m a gun.”
Randy Zorn | Uncle: After which I seen the Lincoln come out throughout the road and I’m going, “Properly there they’re once more.”
I used to be strolling as much as the automobile as they have been pulling out. They usually seen — I used to be really wanting within the again, and I — I believe I seen Linae within the again.
Randy Zorn: And I wave my arms once more. I’m going, “Cease!”
Linae Tiede: I knew that if we have been to — name out or us plead for assist or act like we knew Randy that Randy could be shot as effectively. So he was waving his arms and my sister and I simply pretended we did not know who he was.
Randy Zorn: The automobile simply drove proper by me … I knew one thing’s — one thing’s mistaken. … I do not suppose it was a minute. … I see one other snowmobile come up … with this particular person on it. And I look and I look and I’m going, “He has no coat on.” You realize, no gloves — no helmet. …I’m going, “Who is that this?” I’m going, “Oh my God, it is my brother.” Rolf.
And his face is simply enormous and stuffed with blood and simply — simply huge. Eye swollen shut. Bloodcicles — ‘trigger it was chilly … he was in actually unhealthy form. And he says, “I have been shot. My spouse has been killed and my daughters have been kidnapped.”
I begin heading down the canyon as quick as I might. … I am in panic. Rolf’s within the again stuffed with blood, laying on the backseat.
Twenty years in the past, your cell service didn’t work up there by any means in that canyon. And I saved making an attempt and making an attempt and making an attempt. … there are two issues on my thoughts. save the ladies, get him on a Life Flight.
I come as much as the again of the Lincoln … I do know the ladies are kidnapped. I do know the fellows have gotten weapons in — within the automobile there. You realize, I am going, “What do I do?” Do I run ’em off the street?
And my cellular kicked in. I acquired 911 on my cellular. … she says, “Inform me what course they are going. We acquired police; we acquired folks within the space.” I’m going, “Properly, they’re turning on the street. They’re in the direction of Kamus.”
I’m going, “I want — a helicopter,” and the telephone went useless. Cellphone went useless. … I pulled into the gasoline station, went over to the pay telephone and acquired 911 — again on the telephone once more. … And I’m going, “Guys, I want a helicopter NOW.”
Trish Tiede: We discover a cop automobile move us and switch round and start to observe us. Each males started to panic. … I keep in mind wanting — the speedometer’s goin’ over 90 miles an hour.
We turned proper down in the direction of the canyon and went one other mile or so after which fell — the automobile fell off an — embankment.
I keep in mind wanting up ‘trigger the automobile was at an angle and noticing in the complete street above us we got here down was stuffed with — of — possibly a pair cops, however largely folks in widespread garments drawin’ down with pistols and shotguns and rifles at us. And it — I simply keep in mind how amazed I used to be that there was so many individuals there so quick.
Linae Tiede: There was cops pointing weapons at me. And my little sister says, “No, no, that is my sister.” And I do not suppose they’d obtained data that there was even hostages within the automobile.
Trish Tiede: I reached again for my sister’s hand and grabbed her hand and stated, “Duck!”
Linae Tiede: We each ducked and we have been praying and simply squeezing one another’s hand.
We have all the time had a connection, at the same time as little youngsters. A particular connection. The place we [emotional] can really feel one another. She’s all the time been an awesome consolation to me.
Joe Offert | Lead Investigator: The suspects … have been taken from the car … after which have been secured by the officers who’d arrived on the scene.
These guys are clearly cowards. … so long as they have been in complete management of the state of affairs by use of concern and power, then they continued to perform. When that management went away, that is when it — it stopped they usually surrendered to authorities.
Linae Tiede: The lads have been down on their knees with their arms behind their neck. And the cops have been, you recognize, yellin’ at ’em to, “get down, get down,” and give up. … I began to yell on the cops to kill ’em. I stated, “Kill ’em. They simply killed my mother, my dad and my Grams. Kill ’em. Okay — shoot ’em now. Kill ’em.”
Trish Tiede: I keep in mind a sense of not essentially being protected, however I’ve survived … We have been not within the custody of these two evil males.
Randy Zorn: The helicopter confirmed up fairly fast really … they usually acquired Rolf out of the again of my Blazer and — acquired him into care and he was in fairly unhealthy form, crucial situation. … and when it lifted off I am simply praying that he makes it.
Trish Tiede: I am unable to think about what needed to have been goin’ via dad’s head after he’d been shot after which shot once more. And he is laying there, enjoying useless. Attempting to breathe as shallow as doable.
I later discovered that Dad had really been doused with gasoline. … And he caught on hearth himself. And he needed to run into the bathe and tear off his snowsuit whereas on hearth.
Having the energy to get on that snowmobile and race down that mountain to avoid wasting my sister and I — how a lot blood he misplaced, he could not see, getting down the mountain in freezing temperatures. … My entire lifetime of my dad was my hero. And that simply put an exclamation level on that.
Linae Tiede: My dad was probably the most superb hero that I’ve ever recognized. … Lovely, sort blue eyes. He … was extraordinarily sort and beneficiant in each approach.
Joe Offert: The primary concern on this explicit case is rescuing anyone who may want help… Secondly, is to protect the proof on the crime scene.
One of the crucial vital items of proof. .. was a video digicam. Contained in the video digicam was a videotape.
We had no concept what is perhaps recorded on that. So, at a lot of junctures in that — in that — movie, I used to be saying, “Oh my God, oh my God.”
Suspects Caught on Tape
Brad Wilde | Patrol Deputy: You realize, lots of of crime scenes later, it nonetheless ranks proper up there. It is nonetheless very vivid to me. … most likely after I acquired about 10 toes from the door…I picked up a faint odor…it was kinda like burnt hair and possibly burnt material, like, garments burning.
As I entered the storage, there was possibly a 12-18-inch puddle of blood that was contemporary.
As I began up the stairwell. … I might see holes within the partitions — bullet holes comin’ … from one wall throughout the stairwell into the opposite wall.
There was blood smear on the wall. It regarded like … a bloody hand had — had wiped down the wall. … it virtually regarded like a mini-war zone.
There was two our bodies. … I checked for a pulse … However I knew in my thoughts they have been deceased.
I really … walked into the smoke earlier than I actually realized that the highest ground of that cabin was on hearth. Then our mindset went to protectin’ the sufferer’s property ‘trigger we thought the cabin was going to burn down.
On prime of the espresso desk there was a VCR digicam and a few tapes.
Linae Tiede: There was a double funeral for my mom and grandmother. My grandmother’s identify’s Beth Tidwell Potts. My mom’s identify is Kaye Tidwell Tiede.
I keep in mind simply so many individuals and household that got here to like us and assist us really feel their love and help.
Trish Tiede: My Aunt Claudia was my mother’s older sister and when mother handed, Aunt Claudia stepped in … letting us know that she was there. And it gave us all a way of — that we weren’t alone.
Claudia Tidwell Nelson | Aunt: I needed to be there as a lot as I presumably might as a result of they wanted help. This was a horribly traumatizing factor for them. And we have been what they’d left
Trish Tiede: Grams had a lotta vitality. She was energetic.
Linae Tiede: She was a really enjoyable and vivacious, energetic, completely satisfied grandma. …She would give me permanents. In my hair. And make it curly. Terrible (laughs).
I keep in mind Mother referred to as the aspen timber “quakies.” She beloved the noise that the quaking aspen made within the wind … that was considered one of her fondest recollections. … and it’s mine, as effectively.
Claudia Tidwell Nelson: My sister was one of the vital devoted moms that I’ve ever recognized. She would surrender something for her youngsters. … she was robust willed they usually have been robust willed. And, you recognize, that relationship just isn’t with out battle. However they all the time labored it out
Trish Tiede: The morning of the … crime … I keep in mind turning and strolling over to offer my mom a hug. And she or he and I had acquired in a little bit argument earlier that morning over one thing foolish. She and I each checked out one another … I imply, at 16 years outdated — simply turned. Wasn’t gonna give her a hug. And I turned and walked the opposite approach. And that is the final time I noticed my mother alive.
Joe Offert | Lead Investigator: You inform me what’s your justification for taking these lives and doing this to those those that you do not even know.
Once I watched the videotape — that had been taken from the crime scene … I anticipated to see photos of household speaking, enjoying video games, doing what household of us do. However because it seems, there have been the 2 suspects.
They have been opening the household’s Christmas presents.
Linae Tiede: I keep in mind considering of the pure malice and hate that these males should have of their hearts. What heartless jerks. Why would you do that to our household?
Joe Offert : The 2 males have been of their early to mid-20s … each hung out on the Utah State Penitentiary.
Von Taylor had been beforehand convicted of an aggravated housebreaking. … What I collect is, he was [a] regular child, a really regular and first rate household. However that in some unspecified time in the future, he .. acquired into some battle with the regulation.
I am not conscious of a violent historical past on Mr. Edward Deli. … He’d … been convicted of an arson.
They’d been launched … from the penitentiary to a midway home facility.
Apparently, they got the flexibility to exit and search for employment. … at that time they. … simply absconded.
Trish Tiede: I later discovered that these males … had hitchhiked their approach up there and selected that space as a result of one of many males had household that had a cabin within the space. That they had robbed a number of cabins and ultimately got here to our cabin ‘trigger they knew that we have been there. They needed to … discover a car and get in another country. They waited for us all evening lengthy to return.
Joe Offert: This may look like a slam-dunk case to some of us. However from — from an investigator’s perspective … it was very sophisticated and really complicated.
Certain, it is not a whodunit…there isn’t any query who dedicated the crimes. …However with the ability to decide…what legal act every suspect committed–that was a problem.
Two Killers, Two Outcomes. Justice Served?
Linae Tiede: Von Taylor and Ed Deli very a lot every took their very own separate half in murdering my mother and Grams. … I don’t really feel one man at any approach, form, or type was extra accountable.
Thomas Brunker | Assistant Legal professional Normal: They have been charged with the murders, the aggravated kidnapping, the arsons, the high-speed chase.
I do not keep in mind the precise quantity, however along with the murders there have been one thing like eight to 10 felonies and a few misdemeanors.
Trish Tiede: I needed ’em each to be sentenced to the demise penalty. I need each of them to know that they have been gonna die.
Thomas Brunker: Roughly 5 months after these crimes, Von Taylor pleaded responsible to 2 counts of capital homicide and the state dropped all the different costs towards him in trade for that plea.
Linae Tiede: I consider Taylor pled responsible to his crime as a result of there was a lot chilly proof towards him that that was all that he might plead was responsible.
Taylor was an evil man. He had no regret. No regard for all times by any means. You may see it in his eyes; you could possibly see it in his countenance. From the second we noticed him to the final time we noticed him in courtroom, he had simply had this air about him of anger and 0 regret.
Thomas Brunker: Taylor opted to go to sentencing in entrance of a jury as an alternative of in entrance of a choose. … the jury sentenced him to — to a demise sentence for each murders. So he has two demise sentences.
Linae Tiede I felt … relieved that Taylor could be put to demise for his crime. Justice had been served.
Joe Offert [A] brief time period after that — couple of weeks, I consider, then Mr. Deli went to trial. … we have been as ready, if not possibly even a little bit bit extra ready, to enter the Deli trial as we have been with the Von Taylor trial.
Linae Tiede: I felt an awesome burden … I felt like they virtually needed me to have the ability to see the bullets popping out of the weapons, that they anticipated me to level the precise gun within the course of each bullet and the place it hit at any given second.
Hmmm, I really simply had an entire epiphany of latest ideas come to that, that I do not suppose that that was useful for a sufferer to need to put a weapon that they watched their household murdered with, to even have to the touch it. What’s the level? The weapons have been already on the desk. … Why would I’ve to the touch it?
Trish Tiede: These trails are considerably of a blur to me. [I] was 16 years outdated and … I needed to return and dwell that life I beloved and never having to maintain reliv[ing] a nightmare.
Deli’s lawyer argued that he did not do any of the taking pictures.
These males have been responsible. They dedicated against the law, they wanted to be punished and we would have liked to maneuver on.
Joe Offert: Linae and Trish Tiede — have been glorious witnesses … they have been very certain concerning the issues they’d seen and really articulate. … in a position to relate these very, very sensational issues and in an unemotional approach. … extraordinarily beneficial witnesses. However we had one other survivor of the case. Mr. Tiede survived the assault and the assault … unbelievable man.
Trish Tiede: I keep in mind … watching the look on Deli’s face as he got here in seeing my father. And it was very obvious to me that he didn’t know my father had survived. And the look on his face was simply priceless like he had been defeated. My dad survived. We received.
Joe Offert: He is fortunate that they used the mistaken gun what they shot him. They used chook shot. Very ineffective. They did not know that. … I believe his odds of getting made it — and survived an incident like that — are most likely, one in 1,000.
He was sort of an ace within the gap, and he introduced the prosecution collectively in an impressive approach.
I anticipated Edward Deli …to be convicted of first-degree homicide. … the case had been totally investigated, and the prosecutor’s workplace had completed a superb job.
Randy Zorn | Uncle: I heard the decision got here out — second-degree homicide with life imprisonment. And I by no means actually understood that. I used to be kinda, I do not know, resentful. And I do not know learn how to put this inside. One thing’s mistaken … how can he be not sentenced to demise?
Thomas Brunker: Deli was not convicted of first-degree homicide, he was convicted of … second-degree homicide and a demise sentence was not an choice as soon as that conviction got here in.
Linae Tiede: Edward Deli obtained second-degree homicide as an alternative of first diploma, as a result of one jury member deciding to carry out.
I felt just like the courts did an injustice to our household. I felt like that he deserved to be on demise row as effectively, identical to Taylor … Deli murdered. Taylor murdered.
Randy Zorn: This was such a horrific expertise for everyone right here that I believe all of us did not know what to say or buried it inside to the place we did not discuss this so much.
Trish Tiede: I went via intervals of anger and frustration and never understanding why. … And for years and years that observe, I cried in silence. … I spent an excellent 10 years hiding that ache and suppressing that ache.
Linae Tiede: I went via looking for happiness in areas the place happiness would not exist. I went via concern, concern of — placing my coronary heart on the market, concern of loving somebody or letting somebody love me, that they might — abandon me.
I consider it was 2001 I obtained a letter from Deli … I considered it for a lot of, a few years and would go to put in writing him a letter and it simply by no means felt proper.
Forgiveness and Therapeutic
Linae Tiede: It took me over 9 years to answer Deli’s letter.
I — held on to the letter and I re-read it most likely 20, 30 occasions. I principally needed to get a really feel if he was really sorry. I used to be very cautious and guarded with my emotions.
Deli has shared with me that he has grown into a person, not the identical evil boy that dedicated the — the crime. … I consider that I gained my freedom again for myself by selecting to forgive Deli. For me, forgiving doesn’t imply forgetting.
I don’t consider Edward Deli has a spot exterior of jail. … However after I got here to the place of forgiveness … I felt an incredible burden, aid off my shoulders [emotional]. I felt free.
Nathan Coates | Linae’s husband Linae is flawed perfection. … She is my finest good friend. … She’s every little thing to me … there may be somethin’ in her eyes that’s simply … it is like pure.
And she or he’s as flawed as the remainder of us. However she has this innocence that also is there — that I simply love.
Linae Tiede: Nathan modified my life by opening his coronary heart and sharing his true self and giving me the liberty to do the identical.
I’ve 4 children and 5 lovely step children. … And I simply really feel prefer it’s an attractive begin of a brand new starting.
For me to be a survivor — has grow to be an attractive reward. I consider that I can share it with others.
After the cabin had burn[ed] … we went and rebuilt it and made it even higher than it was earlier than. I can keep in mind my dad. He would say this to me very often. He would say, “Linae, I do know lightning strikes.” He says, “However lightning by no means strikes twice in the identical location.” And I might discover nice peace in that … Generally — if I ever would have concern … I might simply hear my dad say, “Linae … You are gonna be protected.”
Trish Tiede: It is fabulous, we find it irresistible there. We really go up there and revel in household and buddies. And we play and we loosen up. We bond.
They don’t seem to be gonna take away from us the issues that we love and — and we get pleasure from in our life. They took our mother, they took our Grams. However that is the place it ends.
Linae Tiede: The cabin’s magical. The cabin — is therapeutic [smiles].
Trish Tiede: When my father was recognized with most cancers, our entire household got here collectively. And that final six to eight weeks of his life have been so completely unbelievable.
Nathan Coates: … he pulled me apart. Spent about an hour, an hour-and-a-half with me. Simply bein’ him. … In all probability gave me one of many biggest compliments I ever had in my life. However I am nonetheless only a contact uneasy about it. That he knew Linae could be OK. And that he might go — ‘trigger he knew I might care for her.
Trish Tiede: When my father handed, it was very peaceable. I had the privilege of being proper by his aspect as he — he took his final breaths. And his spirit has by no means left me.
Anytime I want my dad, he is there. … He is available in a few of the most original and particular occasions. .. .I very a lot nonetheless really feel that my father is there.
I’ve two lovely little ladies. And after I look into their eyes, I see each my mom and my father, and every little thing that is loving and pure. I’ve an superior life. I like my life now and I would not say that the incident in 1990 defines me. However I might say it is helped make me who I’m immediately.
Claudia Tidwell Nelson | Aunt: I believe my sister could be completely delighted if she regarded down and to see the therapeutic that Linae and Trish have gone via. And what they’ve completed with their lives.
Linae Tiede: I really feel very a lot in order that this expertise has modified me as an individual. …I select that it is part of who I’m. It is my life story.
Trish Tiede: What we skilled collectively…that created a bond that clearly could not have with anybody else. … And I am glad that we have been there collectively … I could not ask for extra.