LAYTON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Police say 31 year old Nathan Sloop has been in and out of jail mainly for drug related convictions. Stephanie Sloop has no criminal history that police are aware of.
The Sloops moved into the Layton apartment building two weeks ago. They were married last Thursday, just days after Stephanie's son Ethan Stacy moved in with them for the summer.
Neighbors are saddened to hear about Ethan's murder.
"It's amazing how something like that could happen, and no one around here knew anything that was going on," says Gary McPhie, a neighbor.
McPhie says he saw Ethan a couple of times with his mother.
"He was quiet. You had to talk to him. He wouldn't talk to you," says McPhie.
While mothers in their apartment complex are disturbed about the child's murder. Police say it was at the hands of his stepfather, with the help of his mother.
"I don't know how any mom could do that. You give birth to them, and love them. How could someone do that to their child?" says Dawn Smith, a neighbor.
"I have a four year old. Kids look up to you for protection. Kids trust you, and you do that to your baby. It's absolutely sickening," says Savannah Jeffers, a neighbor.
Police say the couple did not have any other children living with them besides Ethan. They know of no reason why his stepfather may have killed him. His biological father who lives in Virginia has been notified of his murder, and the District Attorney plans to file formal charges against his mother and stepfather on Wednesday.
