1990 Tiede cabin murders

1990 double murder at a mountain cabin in Utah July 2026 Edward Deli and Von Taylor.png 300 1990 booking photos of the Tiede cabin murderers 1990 12 22 Oakley, Utah, U.S. Burglary, kidnapping, murder by shooting Von Lester TaylorEdward Steven Deli Burglary MurderedBeth Potts, 76Kaye Tiede, 49SurvivedRolf Tiede, 51Linae Tiede, 20Tricia Tiede, 16 Guilty on all counts Taylor: Aggravated murder Deli: Murder yes Taylor: DeathDeli: Seven consecutive terms of life without parole The 1990 Tiede cabin murder occurred December 22, 1990, at a mountain cabin in Oakley, Utah, United States. Two paroled criminals broke into a family’s holiday cabin intending burglary, and later attacked the Tiede family who had returned to the cabin. The suspects killed two people and injured a third, before kidnapping the family’s two daughters and attempting arson of the cabin. The recently paroled criminals were 25-year-old Von Lester Taylor and 21-year-old Edward Steven Deli. They shot and killed 76-year-old Beth Potts and her 49-year-old daughter Kaye Tiede. They also shot 51-year-old Rolf Tiede, Kaye’s husband, who survived. Taylor and Deli kidnapped 16-year-old Tricia and 20-year-old Linae. Both Taylor and Deli were apprehended and charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping. Taylor pleaded guilty to the aggravated murder charges and was sentenced to death. Deli went to trial and was ultimately sentenced to life in prison, after jurors found him guilty of murder but not aggravated murder. Taylor selected lethal injection as his preferred method of execution, and as of 2026 remains on Utah’s death row. Double murder On December 22, 1990, in Oakley, Utah, a family residing at their mountain cabin for the winter were attacked by two men, who killed two female members of the family and abducted another two women of the same family.December 25, 1990 2 Are Slain and 1 Is Hurt as Family Interrupts Burglary at Utah Cabin https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/25/us/2-are-slain-and-1-is-hurt-as-family-interrupts-burglary-at-utah-cabin.html The New York Times On that date, Von Lester Taylor, who was out of prison on parole for aggravated burglary, left the halfway house where he had been staying and joined Edward Steven Deli in breaking into the Tiede family's cabin near Beaver Springs in Oakley, while the family was away in Salt Lake City. Once inside, Taylor called a friend and said he planned "to shoot some people." Not long after, 49-year-old Kaye Tiede arrived at the cabin with her mother, Beth Potts, and one of her two daughters. Taylor and Deli confronted them at gunpoint. Taylor shot and killed both Tiede and her mother.STATE v. TAYLOR [1997], Utah Supreme Court (United States). Later that afternoon, Tiede's husband Rolf Tiede and their other daughter arrived. Taylor held Rolf at gunpoint, stole $105 from him, and then shot him in the face once or twice. He then attempted to set Rolf, the house, and the garage on fire after dousing him in gasoline, but Rolf survived the attack. Taylor and Deli then abducted the couple's daughters – 16-year-old Tricia and 20-year-old Linae – and fled the scene. The men were caught and arrested after a high-speed police chase. Trial proceedings After their arrests, both 21-year-old Edward Deli and 25-year-old Von Taylor were charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.December 24, 1990 Parolees Who Left Halfway House Face Charges in Double Murder https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130587460/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com December 25, 1990 Capital-Homicide Charges Target Duo in Summit Deaths https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130587486/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com Trial of Von Taylor Von Taylor Von Lester Taylor 1965 3 26 Utah, U.S. Aggravated murder Death 2 December 22, 1990 Oakley, Utah Utah State Correctional Facility Out of the two, Taylor, of Washington, Utah, chose to plead guilty to two counts of aggravated murder on May 2, 1991, in exchange for the remaining lesser charges against Taylor were dropped, although the prosecution still reserved their decision to seek the death penalty for Taylor.May 3, 1991 Suspect Pleads Guilty in Cabin Slayings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588213/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com On May 22, 1991, the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Taylor after more than four hours of deliberation.May 23, 1991 Taylor Gets Death https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588730/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com During his sentencing by Judge Frank Noel, Taylor confirmed to the court that he preferred to be executed by lethal injection; death row inmates in Utah were allowed to choose either firing squad or lethal injection.May 25, 1991 Taylor Decides to Die by Injection; Lawyer Says He Thinks of It as Sleep https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588762/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com Trial of Edward Deli Edward Deli Edward Steven Deli 1968 12 29 Utah, U.S. Murder Seven consecutive life sentences without parole 2 December 22, 1990 Oakley, Utah Central Utah Correctional Facility On the other hand, Deli pleaded not guilty and went to trial before a Summit County jury for murdering Kaye Tiede and Beth Potts.May 8, 1991 Trial Under Way In Cabin Killings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130588253/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com The defense argued Deli was not guilty of murder despite his involvement in the burglary, stating Taylor was the sole the shooter throughout the crime.May 9, 1991 Defense Claims Deli Guilty Of All Charges But Murder https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130588270/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com During the trial itself, ballistic experts testified how bullets recovered at the scene showed the victims had been shot with two guns, one a .44-caliber handgun and another a .38-caliber gun. Eyewitnesses testified how Deli had wielded a .44-caliber gun at the victims prior to the shooting.May 12, 1991 Ballistics experts testify at murder trial https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tiede/130588347/ The Daily Herald newspapers.com The prosecution argued in return that whether or not Deli shot the victims, he was equally guilty of aggravated murder under the felony murder rule.May 14, 1991 Verdict Delayed as Summit-Slay Jury Recesses https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588384/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com On May 14, 1991, the jury found Deli guilty of murder, after they failed to reach a unanimous vote to convict Deli of aggravated murder. Under Utah law, a murder conviction requires one or more aggravating circumstances to be eligible for capital punishment.May 16, 1991 Second degree for Deli https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-record/141948446/ The Park Record newspapers.com According to reports, 11 out of the 12 jurors agreed that Deli was guilty of first-degree murder, but the 12th and final juror refused to find Deli guilty as charged, which reportedly caused the rest of the jury to be enraged at his decision. To avoid the possibility of a hung jury and mistrial declaration, the jury chose to convict Deli of lesser charges of second-degree murder. Due to the jury's decision, Deli was spared the death sentence, as the death penalty applied only to aggravated murder offences while the maximum punishment for murder was life imprisonment but not death.May 15, 1991 One Juror Saves Deli From Death https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588497/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com May 16, 1991 Deli escapes death penalty https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-record/141948588/ The Park Record newspapers.com The unnamed juror, who was a businessman, emphasized in an interview how he had no compassion for Deli and personally supported the death penalty. However, he defended his decision to not find Deli guilty of aggravated murder, stating that there was a reasonable doubt that Deli had actually killed any of the victims. He spoke highly of the prosecution and his fellow jury members, despite their disagreements.May 17, 1991 Holdout Juror Explains 'Doubt' About Killer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tiede/130588584/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com On June 3, 1991, Third District Judge Frank Noel sentenced Deli to seven consecutive terms of life imprisonment (five years to life) for all nine felony offences, and with the possibility of parole after a minimum time of 62 years, his earliest possible release date would be in 2053. However, Judge Noel recommended that Deli's life sentences should not carry the possibility of parole, ensuring that he would spend the rest of his natural life in prison and never be released, a decision welcomed by the surviving kin of the victims.June 4, 1991 JUDGE GIVES DELI MAXIMUM SENTENCE, URGES AGAINST PAROLE https://www.deseret.com/1991/6/4/18924002/judge-gives-deli-maximum-sentence-urges-against-parole/ Deseret News June 4, 1991 Parolee Gets Life Sentences For Murders Of Two Women The Bulletin June 4, 1991 Man Gets Life For Cabin Slaying Record-Journal On August 21, 1991, Mike Sibbett, a representative of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, announced that per the decision of the board, Deli would be serving life without the possibility of parole on account of the heinous nature of the double murder.August 22, 1991 DELI GETS LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE https://www.deseret.com/1991/8/22/18937404/deli-gets-life-in-prison-without-parole/ Deseret News August 22, 1991 Deli to Die of Old Age in Prison, Board Rules https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/141949207/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com Appellate process Deli's appeal In March 1993, the Utah Supreme Court heard an appeal from Edward Deli, who appealed to shorten his life sentences, and he stated that the multiple consecutive life terms would not serve any purpose of rehabilitation or parole in his case, and deprived him of his chance to be reformed and released from prison, and hence asked for a shorter sentence.March 7, 1993 Convicted Murderer Steven Deli Appeals Term Says Lighter Sentence Would Aid Rehabilitation https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589105/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com On October 15, 1993, the Utah Supreme Court dismissed Deli's appeal against his sentence.October 19, 1993 High Court Upholds Life Sentence of Man Who Killed Two Women https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589146/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com STATE v. DELI [1993], Utah Supreme Court (United States). Taylor's appeals In 1995, an evidentiary hearing was conducted before the original trial court, as directed by the Utah Supreme Court, after Von Taylor appealed and argued that he was represented by ineffective legal counsel during his trial for murder and petitioned for a re-trial.May 19, 1995 Condemned Man Says Attorney Ineffective https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589195/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com May 25, 1995 Was Death-Row Killer's Defense Proper? https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589227/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com The original trial judge, Frank Noel, rejected Taylor's claims of ineffective counsel and thus dismissed his appeal against conviction and petition for a re-trial.June 10, 1995 Judge Rules Defense Was Adequate For Killer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589247/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com On October 24, 1997, the Utah Supreme Court rejected Von Taylor's appeal against his death sentence and murder conviction.October 25, 1997 2 Utah murder convictions are upheld https://www.deseret.com/1997/10/25/19341843/2-utah-murder-convictions-are-upheld/ Deseret News On October 5, 1998, Taylor's appeal was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.October 6, 1998 Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal in Killings at Family Cabin in Oakley https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589467/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com October 5, 1998 Court rejects murderer's plea https://www.deseret.com/1998/10/6/19405410/court-rejects-murderer-s-plea/ Deseret News In March 2004, Taylor had exhausted all his regular avenues of appeal at state-level, and his appellate process was transitioned to the federal courts.March 4, 2004 Killer exhausts appeals with state https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589725/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com In January 2007, the Utah Supreme Court rejected a post-conviction petition from Taylor, who claimed that he was unfairly sentenced for his role in the double murder. The court found that the sentencing was fair, even if the jury heard his newly discovered evidence of alleged brain damage as the evidence itself would not have precluded him from the death penalty.January 27, 2007 Killer's claim rejected; court says sentence fair https://www.deseret.com/2007/1/27/19998518/killer-s-claim-rejected-court-says-sentence-fair/ Deseret News In 2012, another appeal from Taylor was dismissed by the Utah Supreme Court.TAYLOR v. STATE [2012], Utah Supreme Court (United States). In a 2016 federal appeal, Taylor argued against his conviction and sentence, claiming that he was innocent and he never fired any of the lethal shots that claimed the lives of Kaye Tiede and Beth Potts.June 9, 2016 Death row inmate claims he didn't fire fatal shots in 1990 https://www.deseret.com/2016/6/9/20589983/death-row-inmate-claims-he-didn-t-fire-fatal-shots-in-1990/ Deseret News On March 12, 2020, U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell of a Utah federal district court allowed the appeal of Taylor, and overturned his death sentence and murder conviction, after she found there was reasonable doubt that Taylor had shot any of the victims.March 12, 2020 Judge overturns Utah death row inmate's murder conviction https://apnews.com/general-news-84c0896c2a77d56b47dadc0d1cad7ab3 Associated Press March 12, 2020 Judge overturns Utah death row inmate Von Lester Taylor's double murder conviction https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/3/12/21176623/judge-overturns-utah-death-row-inmate-von-lester-taylors-double-murder-conviction/ Deseret News March 17, 2020 Death Sentence Overturned For Inmate Convicted For Shootings 29 Years Ago https://www.kpcw.org/local-news/2020-03-17/death-sentence-overturned-for-inmate-convicted-for-shootings-29-years-ago KPCW On July 30, 2021, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals restored Taylor's murder conviction and death sentence. The court ruled even if Taylor had never shot any of the victims, he was still liable for a conviction of first-degree murder and death sentence because under Utah’s felony murder rule accomplices of certain serious crimes were considered equally guilty like the main perpetrators should a murder occur in the course of these crimes.TAYLOR v. POWELL [2021], 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).July 30, 2021 Death row inmate in cabin killings dealt setback on appeal https://apnews.com/article/courts-utah-salt-lake-city-4916b312cacaa72929db3b1a5c807dd8 Associated Press August 2, 2021 Death Row Inmate's Appeal Overturned https://www.kpcw.org/local-news/2021-08-02/death-row-inmates-appeal-overturned KPCW On June 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Taylor's final regular appeal, thus officiating Taylor's eligibility for execution on a later date to be determined.TAYLOR v. POWELL [2022], U.S. Supreme Court (United States). In 2023, a fifth appeal was submitted by Taylor to a state district court in Utah.August 29, 2023 Man on death row for 1990 Oakley cabin murders files fifth appeal https://www.kpcw.org/summit-county/2023-08-29/man-on-death-row-for-1990-oakley-cabin-murders-files-fifth-appeal KPCW Current status As of 2025, Von Taylor is incarcerated on death row at the Utah State Correctional Facility.https://corrections.utah.gov/inmate-services/offender-search/ Offender search – Von Lester Taylor Utah Department of Corrections May 16, 2025 Edward Deli is currently serving his life sentence at the Central Utah Correctional Facility.https://corrections.utah.gov/inmate-services/offender-search/# Offender search – Edward Deli Utah Department of Corrections May 16, 2025 Aftermath In the aftermath of the cabin murders, Rolf Tiede, Kaye Tiede's husband and one of the survivors of the slayings, filed a civil lawsuit and sued the state for damages due to their failure to act and intervene when both Taylor and Deli escaped from their halfway house and killed his wife and mother-in-law. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 1996 by the Utah Supreme Court due to a state law that granted the government immunity from any lawsuit pertaining to such situations.April 19, 1996 STATE ISN'T LIABLE IN 1990 SLAYINGS, JUSTICES SAY https://www.deseret.com/1996/4/19/19237596/state-isn-t-liable-in-1990-slayings-justices-say/ Deseret News April 19, 1996 Family Cannot Sue Utah https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/130589397/ The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.com In 2011, 48 Hours, a crime documentary series produced by CBS News, released an episode covering the 1990 cabin murders, with the two daughters of Kaye Tiede, Tricia and Linae, appearing on-screen to speak about their traumatic experiences from the slayings.March 9, 2013 Crime scene photos: Deadly home invasion https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/crime-scene-photos-deadly-home-invasion/ CBS News March 9, 2013 Sisters survive deadly attack at Utah cabin https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sisters-survive-deadly-attack-at-utah-cabin/ CBS News According to the surviving victims, both Deli and Taylor were equally culpable in the crimes. However, Taylor received the death penalty after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, while Deli was sentenced to life imprisonment on the lesser charge of second-degree murder after standing trial for first-degree murder. Some anti-death penalty advocates cited the case as an example of the arbitrary application of capital punishment, pointing to the unequal sentencing outcome in the Tiede cabin murders.March 9, 2013 The Tiede Case - Two killers, two outcomes. Justice served? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-tiede-case-two-killers-two-outcomes-justice-served/ CBS News See also Capital punishment in Utah List of death row inmates in the United States Utah References Category:1990 in Utah Category:1990 murders in the United States Category:Capital murder cases Category:Deaths by person in Utah Category:December 1990 crimes in the United States Category:Female murder victims Category:Murder in Utah Category:People murdered in Utah Category:Violence against women in Utah Category:Deaths by firearm in Utah Category:Gun violence in the United States