A 48-year-old resident of Victor, Idaho, who was found naked and disoriented next to his dead ten-month-old son, appeared in court on Monday, December 4, 2023, facing murder charges.
Jeremy Albert Best is charged with the first-degree murders of his 38-year-old wife, Kali Jean Randall, and their unborn child.
Court documents revealed that Randall, who was about 28 weeks pregnant, died from gunshot wounds to her back. The slaying occurred on Thursday night, November 30, when Teton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from the family’s residence on Skyline Loop in Victor. Upon arrival, they discovered Randall’s lifeless body.
At this point, it was discovered the couple’s 10-month-old son, Zeke Gregory Best, was missing. An Amber Alert was issued when it was confirmed that both Jeremy Best and his son were not present at the home.
Best was discovered on the side of a road east of Idaho Falls with his young son Zeke lying next to him, deceased. No charges related to his death have been filed as authorities await autopsy results from the Ada County medical examiner.
Best’s arrest followed a tip from a group of hunters to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. He was found in a sleeping bag and appeared to be in a disturbed state. Upon identifying Best as the individual wanted by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, Bonneville County deputies took him into custody. His vehicle, a black Chevy SUV, was located down an embankment near where he was found.
During his virtual court hearing, Best, shirtless and visibly distressed, listened as the charges against him were read. Notably, he objected to the representation by Jim Archibald, a death-penalty certified defense attorney, asserting that Archibald was not his lawyer. The judge, however, scheduled a preliminary hearing for December 18 and ordered Best to be held without bond due to the severity of the allegations.
The hearing recapped the moments leading to Randall’s death. A 911 call captured a female voice repeatedly calling out “Jeremy” and pleading “Jeremy no,” amidst sounds of disturbance. A male voice was heard responding aggressively and declaring love. Neighbors reported hearing arguments and gunshots. Investigators also found that surveillance cameras on the property had been disabled.
In an eerie prelude before Randall’s body was discovered, Best was found wandering naked in a town store earlier on Thursday and was sent by the Sheriff’s office for a medical and mental evaluation at a hospital, but he was released.
Randall’s brother, Brian Randall, remembered his sister as a “genuine beautiful soul” and described his brother-in-law as previously appearing to be “a normal guy.” He had no prior knowledge of any conflicts between the couple.
