Tragic Incident in Utah

A mother in Utah was tragically killed in what appears to be a murder-suicide, occurring just a day after she submitted divorce papers. This incident follows the recent loss of her beauty business, which was destroyed in a fire two months prior.

Linda Paola Zerpa Lara, 43, originally from Venezuela, was discovered deceased in her home in Herriman, a suburb of Salt Lake City. A concerned family member alerted the police about the situation, which led them to her residence Friday night.

Accompanying her was a 55-year-old man, whose identity hasn’t been disclosed. According to relatives, she intended to meet her estranged husband, the father of her 10-year-old child, that afternoon.

The authorities stated that Paola’s cause of death was blunt force trauma, while the man died from self-inflicted wounds, though exact details on his death weren’t specified.

According to filings from local media, Paola had formally initiated divorce proceedings the previous day.

Friends noted that despite not living together anymore, the couple maintained a cordial relationship for the sake of their child, who was not present during the tragic events.

Paola relocated to Utah from Venezuela eight years ago and launched her spa business, Pao Glow Beauty, in 2022. Sadly, her business was lost to a fire just two months ago.

One of her friends, Patricia Quinones, shared that Paola was a bright light in her community, always striving to support those around her.

In addition to her beauty business, Paola initiated We All Must Shine, an organization aimed at offering support to individuals dealing with cancer.

Friends are calling on others who experience domestic violence to speak up and seek assistance. One friend, Fabian Laparino, emphasized the importance of reaching out for help.

The investigation into the incident is still active, with authorities continuing to gather information.