A 16-year-old girl and her boyfriend were charged with the brutal murder of her father, who was found with approximately 70 stab wounds and cuts, according to an autopsy report.

This chilling case, which unfolded in 2021, left a community in shock and disbelief. The victim, Daniel Halseth, was discovered in his garage, his body horrifically mutilated and burned. The Clark County coroner's office ruled his death a homicide, indicating that the 45-year-old had suffered around 70 "sharp force injuries," with 42 of these wounds located on the back of his head, neck, and torso.

Sierra Halseth, the victim's daughter, and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Aaron Guerrero, were indicted on charges of murder, conspiracy, arson, robbery, and fraudulent use of a credit card in connection with Daniel Halseth's death. The couple was apprehended by the Salt Lake City Transit Authority after purchasing a train ticket.

Unveiling the horrific details

According to the autopsy report, Daniel Halseth's body was found "burned from head to toe," stuffed in a sleeping bag before being set on fire, resulting in burns to about 40 percent of his body. The report also detailed numerous stab wounds and cuts that were apparently inflicted after his death, including a "saw type wound" found on his right wrist.

During the investigation, police found Home Depot and ATM receipts when searching Halseth's home. Surveillance footage from the store showed Guerrero buying saws and gloves that were later found in the home, and ATM surveillance footage shows Sierra using her father's debit cards.

The day before Daniel Halseth's body was found, Guerrero ran away from home and the teenagers purchased a circular saw, saw blades, bleach, lighter fluid, disposable gloves, and drop cloths from stores near the victim's home, according to court transcripts.

A forbidden love story and a failed escape plan

Sierra and Guerrero had dated but were kept from seeing each other after their parents learned they had planned to run away to Los Angeles, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Investigators confiscated Sierra's phone and found a video showing the couple giggling and discussing what officials have said is the slaying of her father. In the video, Guerrero can be heard saying, "Welcome back to our YouTube channel, three days after murdering somebody."

Sierra responded to this statement with, "Whoa! Don't put that on camera."

Chilling evidence and the aftermath

At least three of the stab wounds found on Halseth's body punctured his lungs, the autopsy report said. Other wounds were superficial, some forming a "ladder-like pattern" on his forearm. He also suffered blunt force injuries on his chest, left shoulder, and back.

Sierra and Guerrero remained in the Clark County Detention Center without bail, court records show. They were scheduled to appear in court.

As the case unfolded, the community was left grappling with the horrifying details of this crime, and the shocking reality of a daughter accused of murdering her own father.

Reflecting on the Case

• A 16-year-old girl and her boyfriend were charged with the brutal murder of her father, who was found with approximately 70 stab wounds and cuts.
• The victim's body was found "burned from head to toe," stuffed in a sleeping bag before being set on fire.
• The teenagers had planned to run away to Los Angeles, and the day before the body was found, they purchased a circular saw, saw blades, bleach, lighter fluid, disposable gloves, and drop cloths.
• A video was found on Sierra's phone showing the couple giggling and discussing the murder.
• Sierra and Guerrero were in the Clark County Detention Center without bail and were scheduled to appear in court.

If you found this retrospective on a shocking crime informative, please share it on Twitter and Facebook.