MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. — A woman and her two sons from Washington were arrested in Arizona on Monday for their alleged involvement in the murder of her husband, authorities said.
Brenda Rasmussen and her sons, Danny Jones and Andrew Jones, are being accused of killing Brenda's husband, Jerry Rasmussen.
The Arizona U.S. Marshals said Jerry Rasmussen was shot once in the head before he was buried under a shed.
Authorities said Brenda Rasmussen initially reported her husband missing in September 2021. She told investigators he had cabin fever and went on a motorcycle ride, adding they had been arguing, and that it was common for Jerry Rasmussen to leave for extended periods of time in the past.
“She told the ladies living around here that Jerry went to California on a business trip and that she hoped that he would be alright,” Gary, one of Jerry’s neighbors, told 12 News’s affiliate KREM 2.
Deputies spoke with Brenda Rasmussen and other family members who reside outside the area and became suspicious of the circumstances and requested the case be looked into further by the Detective Unit, Stevens County Sheriff’s Office said.
Brenda Rasmussen and her sons initially cooperated with authorities, but after a month of investigating they were identified as persons of interest in Jerry Rasmussen's disappearance and began treating the investigation as a possible homicide, the agency said
In November, detectives executed a search warrant at Jerry’s home. Cadaver dogs were used and the dogs indicated the presence of the odor of human remains from the area of a new storage shed.
In December, officials searched the property and found a decomposing body matching Jerry Rasmussen's description after removing the shed.
“They found the decomposing body with a single gunshot wound to the head under concrete,” said Chris DeRosa, deputy US Marshal. “Then was information that they fled after the search warrant and information developed that they were in the Fort Mohave area.”
“Anytime you have family members, or anyone that’s killed, and [the suspects] try to hide the crime, I think it’s a terrible part of society,” DeRosa said.
All three were booked into the Mohave County Detention Center and are waiting to be extradited to Washington.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Get to know 12 News
At 12 News, we listen, we seek, we solve for all Arizonans. 12 News is the Phoenix NBC affiliate owned by TEGNA Inc.
At 12 News, It’s a Matter of Facts. Built on a legacy of trust, 12 News serves more than 4.6 million people every month on air, on our 12 News app, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and 12News.com.
We are committed to hyper-locally serving all of our communities. We advocate for our neighbors, affect positive change, and connect our broader community to solutions.
12 News is the Official Home of the Arizona Cardinals and the proud recipient of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Overall Excellence.
Stay connected by downloading the 12 News app, available on Google Play and the Apple Store, and by signing up for our daily newsletter. Catch up on any stories you missed on the show on the 12 News Youtube channel. Read content curated for our Spanish-speaking audience on the Español page.