Name: Maren Carlson
Age: 99 years old
Last Seen: November 1, 2021
Location: West Valley City, Utah
Status: Still missing
Case Information
99 year old Maren Carlson was last seen at her home in West Valley City, Utah on November 1, 2021. She was allegedly murdered by her grandson, though her body has never been found.
Disappearance
At the time of her disappearance, Maren Carlson was living with her grandson and his wife in the 3300 block of South Greenmont Drive in West Valley City, Utah. She was last seen alive on November 1, 2021.
On November 12, 2021, a woman called 911 stating that her husband, 50 year old Garman Shaun Cunningham, had ‘”held her captive for several days inside their home” and that he had killed Maren, his grandmother.
When officers arrived they noticed the wife had numerous wounds all over her body. During the 11 days she was held captive she had been threatened with a gun, burned with cigarettes, cut with knives and broken glass, handcuffed to a rocking chair, and forced to drink WD-40.
Cunningham barricaded himself in the home, which led to a thirty minute standoff with police. When he eventually came out of the house he had a sword and tried to run before a police dog caught him.
Investigation
According to Cunningham’s wife, she saw him attempt to smother Maren with a pillow on November 1, 2021. He then started beating her, then dragged her out of bed and down a hallway with her arm tangled in her walker before throwing her down a flight of stairs.
When he realized Maren was still alive, he carried her back up the stairs and threw her down a second time before stabbing her with a broken piece of her own walker.
Cunningham then reportedly took her body out to the garage where he wrapped her in tape and plastic. He later told his wife he drove up a mountain and dumped her body off the side, “rolling her body down an incline in hopes nobody would see her.”
Evidence collected at the scene corroborate the wife’s story. Large amounts of blood were found at the base of the stairs and in the garage. There was also evidence that someone had tried to clean it up as all the carpeting and furniture in Maren’s bedroom had been removed.
Multiple casings were found throughout the home, as well as multiple knives, two guns, swords, and a pair of handcuffs.
A dumpster had been delivered to the home on November 4, 2021, and was subsequently found to contain Maren’s broken walker, carpet, cleaning supplies, a shower curtain, and bedding, all of which were covered with blood matching Maren’s DNA.
In December 2021, Cunningham was charged with aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping. He was also charged with a second-degree felony of obstructing justice and third-degree felonies of two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of illegal discharge of a firearm.
In March 2022, he died by suicide while in custody.
Tracking data from Cunningham’s phone shows that he was in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest near State Route 150 (Mirror Lake Highway) and State Route 35 on November 2, 2021. Multiple searches have been conducted by police in the area, but Maren’s body has not been found.
West Valley City police have asked that anyone heading to the Uinta Mountains to be on the lookout for anything connected to the case, including a black garbage bag which may contain evidence.
Appearance
White female with gray hair. Maren stands 4’11 tall and weighs 85 pounds.
Clothing & Accessories:
Maren was last seen wearing light pink pajamas with a floral design and possibly a robe.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the case of Maren Carlson please contact the West Valley Police Department at (801) 840-4000.
Agency case number 21I042158.
Resources & Further Information
Maren R Carlson – NamUs
Maren R Carlson – The Charley Project
Mountain Goers Asked to Look Out For Evidence in West Valley City Homicide Case – 2KUTV
Utah Detectives Ask Hunters to Help Find Body of 99 Year Old Homicide Victim – The Salt Lake Tribune
West Valley City Police Searching For Missing Grandmother Believed to Have Been Killed by Grandson – FOX13
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