Abhorrent text messages boy, 15, sent mother before she and her younger son, 8, died in mysterious bloodbath

Daily Mail​

10-07-2025

A teen boy sent his mother a string of disturbing text messages before she and her younger son were found shot to death in their Utah home.
Jessica Orton Lyman, 44, and her son Eli Painter, 8, were found with fatal gunshot wounds inside their home in Saratoga Springs, around 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, on March 28.
Newly released court documents revealed that police made several bizarre discoveries at the crime scene and uncovered obscene texts sent by the mother of three's 15-year-old son.
'I wish I died in your stomach. Wouldn't have to put up with you,' the boy said in one message to Lyman.
'F**k off h**,' her wrote in another.
Other texts from the boy included: 'Shut up witch,' 'I'm more happy when I'm not around you,' and 'Do you know how insignificant you really are to my life? Very insignificant.'
Investigators also found a handwritten note in the teen's room that stated: 'This is a murder story.'
The 15-year-old was home at the time of the shootings and told police he was was in his bedroom when the killings occurred.
Lyman's 17-year-old daughter came home and found her mom and kid brother unconscious and covered in blood.
The two teenagers had a different father than their younger brother and police said they were with him after Lyman's death.
Police have not arrested or charged anyone in the case, but an affidavit for a search warrant obtained by KUTV has provided additional horrifying details from the investigation.
Police discovered dried semen on the bed in the room where Lyman was found, and sex toys, lubricant and fishnet stockings were recovered in both that room and the 15-year-old's.
The teen's room was described as being in a state of 'disarray,' and detectives also noted that they found several pairs of women's underwear in his room.
Investigators also discovered a white and brown mask in his room, similar to the one seen in surveillance video from neighboring homes that showed an eerie figure walking near the house on the night of the shootings.
'I obtained doorbell camera footage from other neighbors and saw a figure walking in front of the victim's residence at 2:18am on March 28,' police said in a previous warrant.
'The video was too far away to see details of this person, but I believe the victim's doorbell camera would show this figure in better detail. This video may give critical information to identify the suspect in this case.'
The Saratoga Springs Police Department told the Daily Mail that it was continuing to investigate but did not offer further details.
'The families of the victims have been extremely cooperative throughout the entire investigation, and the Saratoga Springs Police Department remains committed to continue to work closely with them in the pursuit of justice,' the department said.
Lyman's family also released a statement asking for the public to help find their killer.
'Not a moment passes that we don't feel the weight of this unimaginable loss. Our family is forever changed. While we continue to wait for answers, we remain hopeful that justice will be served and those responsible will be held accountable,' the family said.
'If you have any information that could help move this case forward, we urge you to come forward and contact the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Jessica and Eli deserve justice, and even the smallest detail could help law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.'