Who was Sherry Black?
Sherry was born in Orem, UT on October 14, 1946 to loving parents.
She loved books from a young age.
Sherry and Earl Black attended their first dance together as a couple, the “Sophomore Slide”.
They attended their Senior Prom together.
Sherry and Earl Black were married on April 16, 1965.
“She was the love of my life. She gave so much of herself through her time and talents, but the best gift she shared was her love that she gave so freely.”
– Earl Black
Sherry became a mother.
“It’s pretty special to have a mother who set such an amazing example of self-betterment.”
– Heidi Black Miller, daughter
She became a docent at the Hogle Zoo for a decade, taking animals to area schools and teaching children about them.
Earl and Sherry with their beloved pets. “I love her love of animals and the cats and dogs she cared for. We didn’t have dogs growing up and it was always fun to visit grandma and gramps and their dogs.”
– Joshua Miller, grandson
Sherry became a grandma, and eventually had six grandkids.
“She was my advocate from the day I was born. I came home from the hospital to a tiny house right next door to hers. The only thing separating our houses were rows of raspberry bushes she would let me raid whenever I wanted. She was the world’s best grandma.”
– Courtney Hawks, granddaughter
“She was beyond proud to be a grandma, and so proud of every one of us grandkids. She told me and showed me that I was enough. She cared about her relationships with all six of us on an individual level and knew us each well.”
– Alyssa Wardle, granddaughter
She took her first Girls trip to NYC.
Sherry was a dedicated and involved grandma.
“I vividly remember her being so present at every sleepover. She would welcome us in the kitchen as we would walk into her home. We would order Italian Village pizza, make popcorn in the Whirly Pop, play Jenga, take a bubble bath with her plastic orange measuring cups and egg-beater, and watch a movie on the silky blanket. I would wear one of her oversized t-shirts to bed most of the time, and I would fall asleep between her and my grandpa to the sound of cars rushing by on 700 East. The next day, I would wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and walk to the kitchen to see her and my grandpa sitting side by side on the patio reading the newspaper. I would then do something along the lines of this routine: crack open a Shasta from the workshop, lay in the hammock in the backyard, raid the raspberry bushes and grapes in her garden and go play “bookstore” in her shop.”
– Sabrina Humphrey, granddaughter
She took her first girls trip to San Francisco.
Sherry became a great-grandma on June 25.
Sherry’s life was taken at age 64.
Sherry’s Murder
Podcasts of Sherry Black Murder
Articles of Sherry’s Murder and investigation
Making a difference for others
Sherry’s Case Timeline
November 30, 2010- December 1, 2010
- Sherry was found murdered at her place of business.
- South Salt Lake City Police Department respond
- Utah Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory System responds to process scene
- Scene processed which included documenting, sketching, photography, chemical testing,
searching for evidence and collecting and packaging evidence. - Neighborhood canvas and interviews conducted.
December 1, 2010
- Autopsy Performed by Office of the Medical Examiner
- Manner of Death: Homicide
- Immediate Cause of Death: Combined Blunt and Sharp Force Injuries of Head, Neck, and Torso
December 2010
- South Salt Lake Police Department continues interviewing potential witnesses.
- Evidence submitted to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory System for testing.
Family asks for daily/weekly/monthly updates on investigation.
February 2011
- Utah Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory System confirms offenders’ blood at scene. Full DNA profile uploaded into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) with negative results.
May 2011
- DNA was submitted to Sorenson Forensics for analysis. Identifies offenders DNA as West Sub-Saharan African population with a calculated value of 59%.
May 2011 – October 2011
- DNA samples were collected and tested, witness interviews.
October 2011- Heidi reaches out to Vidocq
- Case presented to the Vidocq Society during training at Unified Police Department
November 2011 Reward offered
- Candlelight Vigil held
February 2012
- Case assessment conducted onsite by the Vidocq Society (Weeklong)
- Targeted Witness/Offenders interviewed, and DNA samples collected.
- SSLPD provided a list of investigative strategies.
- Offender Behavioral Profile provided to SSLPD.
- Crime Scene Assessment conclusions provided to SSLPD.
November 30th
- Another Vigil held on two-year anniversary (facebook page photos)
February 2013 – May 2015
- Conduct witness interviews
- Evaluate evidence
- Eliminate possible suspects
2014- Heidi on Utah Capitol Advocating for DNA Law HB 212
May 2015
A second assessment by Patrick J. Zirpoli and Richard D. Walter, two of the original Vidocq members from 2012, onsite for three weeks.
During this time:
- Witness interviews were conducted
- Evidence was reviewed
- Meetings were conducted with Utah Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory System and Sorenson Forensics
- Investigators were left with a list of investigative strategies
2015 Advancements Probabolic Genotyping (PG) Better Instruments, Rapid DNA, NGS)
A second assessment by Patrick J. Zirpoli and Richard D. Walter, two of the original Vidocq members from 2012, onsite for three weeks.
During this time:
- Investigation being investigated jointly by SSLPD and Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake
- Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake assumes lead on case
- Partial fingerprints and palm prints sent to all state laboratories for comparison
- Phenotyping (Technique where scientists can determine the physical appearance of an individual based solely on their DNA) conducted results released to the public
- Sherry Black Foundation founded by Greg and Heidi Miller in hopes of finding answers in their own case as well as helping others
- First SBF sponsored training symposium held in Salt Lake City Utah
2018 Sherry’s Case is moved to Unified with cold case detective Ben Pender
DNA Advancements of IGG GSK case in the media
Unified detective partner with Parabon to use Investigative Genetic Genealogy use as a tool for Sherry’s case (opt in to share your DNA to help solve cases)
Late 2018 Investigative Genetic Genealogy started with Parabon NanoLabs
- Det. Pender Traveled throughout the country taking Buccal Swabs
- September 18, 2020, 2 new DNA testers uploaded to GEDmatch
- Genetically linked to family of offender
- Travel to California Identified possible offender’s father
- Provided mother’s name
- Baby picture at 3 months old and name Antonio
- Buccal swab collected
- DNA confirmed father of offender
- Suspect Identification
- Identified in an Obituary for Grandmother
- Antonio Spencer
- Currently using Adam Antonio Spencer Durborow
- Surreptitiously obtain suspects DNA
- DNA a match for offender
- Saturday October 10, 2020
- Stopped prior to entering his place of employment
- Taken into custody
- Offender confesses to committing the crime
- KSL news article
Meetings with DA and prosecutors to learn what to expect in this case and how to press forward with prosecution