Police: Bluffdale woman falsely reported her husband shot, killed her
(KUTV) — A Utah County woman was arrested after falsely reporting that her husband killed her.
A woman, who was not identified in court documents, contacted police on Tuesday at approximately 2:05 a.m. after receiving text messages claiming her friend's wife of 10 months, 44-year-old Rebecca Nielson, had died, court documents state.
When the woman asked if he was serious, she received more messages from Shaun Dudley's phone claiming it wasn't a joke, he had shot Nielson and that she wasn't breathing.
Court documents state when the woman asked if she should call for an ambulance to go to Dudley's house in Bluffdale, the message from Dudley's phone stated "yes."
The woman then called 911 to report the incident.
Several officers from the Saratoga Springs/Bluffdale police department, along with several officers from Herriman and the Unified Police Departments responded the home.
While officers were attempting to contact him, Nielson walked up to them. Once the officers made contact with Dudley, he claimed he got into an argument with his wife at approximately 10 p.m. on Monday about him talking to the unidentified women.
Nielson took Dudley's phone and left the house. Court documents state Nielson returned a short time later and started another argument.
The 44-year-old allegedly picked up Dudley's computer and threw it on the ground, which broke the screen.
During an interview with police, Nielson admitted to taking her husband's phone and sending text messages to the woman. She claimed Dudley was cheating on her. Nielson said she wanted to see if the woman would be an accomplice in covering up a crime and to see how she would react, court documents state.
Nielson was arrested for criminal mischief and falsely reporting an emergency. She was booked into the Utah County Jail.
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