A 42-year-old Murray woman is facing multiple felony charges after police say she subjected her two young children to years of physical abuse.
Elizabeth Rose Conlin was formally charged in 3rd District Court with:
- Child torture and aggravated child abuse (first-degree felonies)
- Obstruction of justice and additional counts of aggravated child abuse (second-degree felonies)
- Witness tampering (third-degree felony)
- Tampering with evidence and child abuse (class A misdemeanors)
Prosecutors described Conlin as having an “extensive violent criminal history,” including prior convictions for domestic violence, stalking, aggravated assault, and protective order violations. She remains held in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail in connection with another case.
Children came forward after her arrest
According to charging documents, the abuse came to light after Conlin’s July 2025 arrest on unrelated charges. Police said her 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter then felt safe enough to reveal what they had endured.
The boy told investigators that Conlin and her ex-partner, Kalon Ray Colvin, 42, of Sandy, “hurt him and his sister a lot.” Colvin was separately charged in September with aggravated child abuse.
The children described multiple acts of severe physical punishment, including:
- Being spanked up to 40 times with a red belt and told to lie about injuries.
- Beaten with a wooden spoon and belt on the neck, legs, and face.
- Forced to stand in a corner for up to eight hours as punishment.
- Ordered to run 300 laps without a jacket at night until exhaustion while Conlin “watched from the house.”
The girl told police her mother used “multiple belts” to hit both siblings. The boy also claimed Conlin sometimes instructed him to blame Colvin for the injuries.
Pattern of violence and witness tampering
Court filings allege Conlin tried to manipulate her children’s statements and destroy evidence during the investigation. Prosecutors said her long record of violent behavior heightens concern for the children’s safety and the integrity of the case.
Ongoing resources for victims and parents
Authorities urged anyone experiencing or witnessing child abuse to seek immediate help.
Utah Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
Support organizations include:
- Family Support Center: Offers crisis nurseries and counseling — familysupportcenter.org
- Prevent Child Abuse Utah: Free training and online resources — pcautah.org
- Office of Home Visiting: Parenting support for families — homevisiting.utah.gov
- Utah Safe Haven Law: Allows parents to safely surrender newborns — utahsafehaven.org
