Man accused of killing his pregnant wife and 10‑month-old son had erratic behavior prior to incident
On Monday, Jeremy Albert Best is set to face American investigators. He stands accused of the murder of his 38-year-old wife, Kali Jean Randall, who was pregnant, and their son, Zeke Gregory Best. The harrowing events reportedly began on Thursday when Best was taken to a psychiatric ward after being seen running naked in a store. He was subsequently released from the hospital.
12:41 PM EST, December 4, 2023
The dreadful crime occurred in Victor, Idaho. Forty-eight-year-old auto mechanic Jeremy Albert Best allegedly committed the horrifying act during a possible mental breakdown.
The events leading to the tragedy began on Thursday with a strange occurrence at a local store. Staff at the Swan Valley General store called the ambulance for a man who was aimlessly roaming around, wholly naked, causing distress to other customers. Medical professionals from the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, deemed his mental health to be unstable and admitted him to the hospital.
According to the "East Idaho News", the exact diagnoses and the events that transpired in the hospital remain unclear as Best was discharged later that day. Tragically, following his release, he headed straight home.
Police suspect that later on Thursday, Best murdered his wife at their home in Victor, Idaho, before abducting their 10-month-old son, Zeke Gregory Best. This initiated an extensive search for the father and son.
An alert was issued for the missing child at 4:30 am, Friday. Reports state that Best was last seen driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with an Idaho license plate.
Idaho tragedy: father accused of killing pregnant wife and infant son
The police launched a manhunt for Best and advised the public not to approach him due to suspicions that he was armed.
The scenario took a devastating turn early on Saturday morning. A group of hunters found Best's body in the woods. His remains were discovered in a sleeping bag near Kepps Crossing Road, close to Dan Creek Road, east of Idaho Falls. The deceased body of his infant son was found nearby.
As reported by the "Daily Mail", photographs taken by the police on Sunday revealed a bewildered and unkempt Best, staring blankly.
Meg Fischer, a cousin of Randall, spoke on behalf of the family, announcing that Randall was pregnant with their second child at the time of her death. Fischer stated, "Motherhood brought her the most joy, and we suspect that she gave her life to protect her children."
Best had been running his auto workshop, Jeremy's Auto, in Victor, Idaho for two decades. His website used to promote his services with the tagline: "Meet Jeremy Best, a local mechanic and your new best friend." It mentioned that when he wasn't repairing cars, he "enjoyed lounging in his recreational boat" and "taking drives on side roads with his beloved Kali and their three dogs."