ID ZEKE BEST: Missing from Victor, ID - 30 Nov 2023 - Age 10 months *Found Deceased*

Amber Alert issued to find 10-month-old baby - Local News 8

An Amber Alert was issued early Friday morning to find a 10-month-old baby whose mother was found dead. The baby may be with his father, Jeremy Albert Best.

localnews8.com

Amber Alert issued to find 10-month-old baby​

An Amber Alert was issued early Friday morning to find a 10-month-old baby whose mother was found dead. The baby may be with his father, Jeremy Albert Best.

The Teton County Sheriff's Office reported at approximately 11:40 p.m. Thursday, they received a 911 call from a home on 4600 Skyline Loop in Victor. When deputies arrived at the home they found Kali Jean Randall, 38, dead.

The sheriff's office says Best may be driving a black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe with Idaho plates 1T39349. He may have his son, Zeke Gregory Best, with him.

Police: Idaho baby taken by his ‘armed and dangerous’ father

Best is believed to be driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, with Idaho plates 1T39349.

www.newsnationnow.com

Police: Idaho baby taken by his ‘armed and dangerous’ father​

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 10-month-old Idaho boy missing since Thursday who police say was abducted by his father, who’s a homicide suspect.

The baby, Zeke Best, was taken by his father, Jeremy Albert Best, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. According to the Amber Alert, Zeke might be in “imminent danger.” The Teton County Sheriff’s Office says Best is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Authorities said Best could be driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, with Idaho plates 1T39349.

Teton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call around 11:38 p.m. Thursday at a residence in Victor, Idaho. When they arrived there, deputies found a deceased woman who they identified as Best’s wife, 38-year-old Kali Jean Randall.

Randall’s death is currently being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police as a homicide at this time. Best is a suspect in the crime, The Teton County Sheriff’s Office said.

Police cautioned the public not to approach Best if they see him. Instead, those with information on his whereabouts should call 208-354-2323 or 911.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Idaho man charged with murder of infant son, wife, found competent to stand trial

An arraignment hearing for Jeremy Albert Best, the man accused of killing his pregnant wife and infant son, has been set.

kutv.com

Idaho man charged with murders of infant son, pregnant wife, found competent to stand trial
An arraignment hearing for Jeremy Albert Best, the man accused of killing his pregnant wife and infant son, has been set after he was found competent to stand trial.

Jeremy reportedly appeared in court shortly after his booking via video from jail. AP stated that he was visibly distraught and could be seen covering his face and tugging at his hair. At one point, he interrupted the judge to ask what charges he would be facing. When the murder charges were read aloud in the courtroom, Best reportedly covered his face and was believed to be crying.

Prior to his enter to plea, the judge ordered that Jeremy undergo a mental health evaluation. Jeremy was found competent to stand trial on Dec. 22.

An arraignment date was set for Best to take place on Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. Mountain Time in front of Judge Dane H. Watkins in the Seventh District Court of Idaho. He will be read his officials charges and will be given the chance to plead guilty or not guilty. A trial will proceed if Best chooses to plead not guilty.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Jeremy Best pleads not guilty in death of pregnant wife, son

The 48-year-old from Victor faces three counts of murder in the first degree.

www.ktvb.com

Jeremy Best pleads not guilty in death of pregnant wife, son​

48-year-old Jeremy Best pleaded not guilty to the murders of his pregnant wife and infant son on Wednesday.

Best is facing three counts of murder in the first degree and three enhancements for the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon during the commission of a crime. During an arraignment via Zoom, Best's attorney, John Archibald, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.


Best faces up to life in prison or the death penalty for the murder charges. The prosecution has not announced whether they will seek the death penalty in this case.

A status conference has been set for March 14 at 1 p.m. in Teton County.

Meanwhile, Best is being held in jail without bond.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Jeremy Best pleads not guilty in death of pregnant wife, son

The 48-year-old from Victor faces three counts of murder in the first degree.

www.ktvb.com

Jeremy Best pleads not guilty in death of pregnant wife, son​

48-year-old Jeremy Best pleaded not guilty to the murders of his pregnant wife and infant son on Wednesday.

Best is facing three counts of murder in the first degree and three enhancements for the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon during the commission of a crime. During an arraignment via Zoom, Best's attorney, John Archibald, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.


Best faces up to life in prison or the death penalty for the murder charges. The prosecution has not announced whether they will seek the death penalty in this case.

A status conference has been set for March 14 at 1 p.m. in Teton County.

Meanwhile, Best is being held in jail without bond.

If a case deserves the DP it is this one. Of course all the DP does these days is make a far tougher trial and far more appeals and they never get executed anyhow.

Why did he even take his son only to kill him after?

I am so sick, fed up, disgusted with these baby killers, woman killers/husband killers/bf killers and of women and children and/or family annihilators.

I think this is the guy when asking what he was charged with and told murder started crying. Really? What did he think the charges would be?

I used to say Colorado but these days and these last years it is ID taking the cake with over the top crimes. As always, no offense to the good people who live there or in any state I say such about. I mean we had Dahmer, Patterson, and some big ones so I certainly don't mean it that way.

Smdh at what some people can do or I should say have done/did.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Jeremy Best defense argues killings were due to alleged mental breakdown - East Idaho News

Jeremy Best defense argues killings were due to alleged mental breakdown​

The defense attorney for Jeremy Best, a man indicted for the murders of his wife, her unborn child, and their 10-month-old son, argues in newly filed court documents that Best did not kill them out of malice but instead had a mental breakdown.

In a motion to dismiss the indictment against Best filed on Tuesday, defense attorney and public defender Jim Archibald argues a grand jury should reconvene due to the lack of consideration for the charges, evidence, and witnesses presented during the indictment proceedings.

Because grand jury proceedings are sealed, there is little information about what happened inside the indictment proceedings. But recently filed court documents reveal new details about the alleged motive, or perhaps as Archibald states, “lack thereof,” behind the killings.


Archibald argues the grand jury did not consider Best’s mental health during the grand jury proceedings.

Before the alleged killings, Best was detained at the Swan Valley General store on Nov. 30 after being found naked and confused inside the store.

“The fact that defendant had been detained on the day in question at a store in Swan Valley, Idaho, where he was found delirious and confused and naked, and then detained by law enforcement and taken to EIRMC in Idaho Falls, Idaho, was not considered by the grand jury,” says Archibald in the newly filed motion. “The mental health breakdown of the defendant deals directly with premeditation and malice.”

The motion also confirms Kali and Zeke Best, picked him up from EIRMC after he was detained.

“There is no evidence that the defendant harbored any ill will toward his wife or his child, who came to pick him up at EIRMC when the hospital would not keep him,” says the motion.

EIRMC issued a statement on Dec. 5, saying they followed the protocol for a patient like Best, who came to the hospital with behavioral health concerns.

“Like all hospitals, we follow specific standards of care when we assess and treat individuals, including those with behavioral health concerns,” the EIRMC statement says. “Idaho law limits law enforcement, hospitals, and healthcare providers from placing individuals on a protective custody hold unless specific clinical criteria (are) met. When these factors are not present or apparent at the time of the care process, hospitals cannot legally hold a patient against their or their family’s wishes.”


Archibald argues there are witnesses to the Best’s relationship that would have testified to them “having a great relationship” before the alleged killings.

“If the grand jury would have investigated as the law states they should have, they would have found a host of witnesses who would say that defendant had a great relationship with his wife, and that but for the defendant’s mental health breakdown, this incident would not have happened,” says Archibald in the court filing.

Archibald also claims that the indictment should be dismissed due to the grand jury only considering a charge of first-degree murder, and not second-degree murder.

“The difference between first-degree murder and second-degree murder are the separate elements of premeditation and malice,” states Archibald in the court filing. “First-degree murder requires both premeditation and malice, second-degree murder does not require either one.”

Archibald argues the grand jury should also consider the charge of manslaughter in place of first-degree murder, as manslaughter does not require someone to have premeditated the murder or committed it with malice.

“There is proof that the case against the defendant lacked both premeditation and malice,” states the court filing.

According to Teton County Prosecutor Bailey Smith, this motion was expected and is a common route for defense attorneys to take when their client has been indicted.

“This motion was expected. Any good defense attorney would seek to dismiss the indictment against their client,” says Smith. “I can’t provide comment on the substance of the motion, but the state will file an opposition to the motion in due course.”

Best is expected to appear in court for a status conference on March 14. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

 

[GrandmaBear]

My wow face is he has Lori Daybell's attorney Jim Archibald??? Public defender... He didn't do sh*t for Lori but she also tied his hands I guess... Small world there in ID these days and all the murders in recent years isn't it...

Prosecution says this is a typical course for defense and I'm sure it is.

Also hospital said he didn't meet criteria for a hold of him? Were they right?

I'd also like to know his tox, alcohol level, drugs and so forth. Being naked in a store certainly does not have to be due to a mental breakdown. Wife and daughter picked him up and I have to wonder if it was because he was not allowed to drive. Perhaps even this man should have been arrested for disorderly, who knows. Was he confused or obliteratingly intoxicated, drugged up, etc. and was therefore confused and naked IF TRUE as to the confusion.

Much not answered but maybe the jury ignored it because the hospital found no cause to keep him. No one as far as I know diagnosed a mental breakdown, it is simply Archibald claiming so.

As to how wonderful their relationship was, she isn't here to tell otherwise now is she. Some friends or neighbors may say that but no one knows all and perhaps she had told him she was done with him or something that day, who the heck knows.

I guess we'll learn more. I'm sure Archibald will want an eval next no doubt. Again even though LE took him to hospital, they found no legal reason to hold him based on his mental state.

Maybe they were wrong, maybe they weren't.

I'd say LE could have also thrown him in jail possibly, were they wrong not to?

Hard to say. Regardless he killed his wife, unborn baby and his child. And he killed that child later after taking him. As with most of course he never harmed himself and in fact made sure he had a sleeping bag to rest in and stay warm and alive when found.

Again I guess we will see...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Teton prosecutor seeks help from Daybell attorney Rachel Smith in Jeremy Best murder case - East Idaho News

DRIGGS — Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith is requesting help in a triple murder case from a Missouri lawyer who has played a prominent role in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases. Rachel Smith, who is not related to Bailey Smith, signed an engagement agreement with the Teton County...

www.eastidahonews.com

Teton prosecutor seeks help from Daybell attorney Rachel Smith in Jeremy Best murder case​

Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith is requesting help in a triple murder case from a Missouri lawyer who has played a prominent role in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases.

Rachel Smith, who is not related to Bailey Smith, signed an engagement agreement with the Teton County Commissioners and was approved to begin working on the Jeremy Best murder case once the Idaho courts admit her pro hac vice.

Pro hac vice is a legal term for adding an attorney to a case in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed to practice.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Teton prosecutor seeks help from Daybell attorney Rachel Smith in Jeremy Best murder case - East Idaho News

DRIGGS — Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith is requesting help in a triple murder case from a Missouri lawyer who has played a prominent role in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases. Rachel Smith, who is not related to Bailey Smith, signed an engagement agreement with the Teton County...

www.eastidahonews.com

Teton prosecutor seeks help from Daybell attorney Rachel Smith in Jeremy Best murder case​

Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith is requesting help in a triple murder case from a Missouri lawyer who has played a prominent role in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases.

Rachel Smith, who is not related to Bailey Smith, signed an engagement agreement with the Teton County Commissioners and was approved to begin working on the Jeremy Best murder case once the Idaho courts admit her pro hac vice.

Pro hac vice is a legal term for adding an attorney to a case in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed to practice.

What in the HECK is going on here?!! I'm serious. Flat out serious.

We already have Archibald. Daybell. Now we have Rachel Smith who just unexpectedly is leaving the Daybell case. She is NOT an ID atty.

This is weird. Some coincidences aren't crazy but this one is.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Prosecutor seeking death penalty in Jeremy Best murder case - East Idaho News

DRIGGS — The Teton County Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against Jeremy Best, a man accused of killing his wife, her unborn child and their toddler. Bailey Smith, Teton County prosecuting attorney, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Wednesday evening. Best, 48, was...

www.eastidahonews.com

Prosecutor seeking death penalty in Jeremy Best murder case​

The Teton County Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against Jeremy Best, a man accused of killing his wife, her unborn child and their toddler.

Bailey Smith, Teton County prosecuting attorney, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Wednesday evening. Best, 48, was indicted by a grand jury in December for three counts of first-degree murder and three enhancements for the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon during the commission of a crime.

“The state has received no such evidence, and found no mitigating circumstances that are sufficiently compelling to render imposition of the death penalty unjust in this case,” Smith wrote in her notice.

Jim Archibald, Best’s attorney, filed a notice last month asking Smith not to file the death penalty. Archibald argued Best did not kill his family out of malice but had a mental breakdown. Best has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

 

[GrandmaBear]

GOOD. The few left in this country willing to give real consequences others should learn from. Criminals do sometimes care about their own life or arse. We see it over and over when they kill tehir entire family and fake or don't even try to kill selves.

Also good is that desipite this man was like nude in a shop they are not going all soft adn that he must have not known what he was doing was wrong, etc.

A wrongful arrest, conviction or DP carried ou would be awful but it isn't typically the case. Not these days. Is there much doubt prosecutors ahve plenty here that this man killed his pregnant wifei AND his living son? NO. NONE at all really.

@Mel70 Someone actually going for the DP and announcing it.

 

[Kimster]

Prosecutor seeking death penalty in Jeremy Best murder case - East Idaho News

DRIGGS — The Teton County Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against Jeremy Best, a man accused of killing his wife, her unborn child and their toddler. Bailey Smith, Teton County prosecuting attorney, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Wednesday evening. Best, 48, was...

www.eastidahonews.com

Prosecutor seeking death penalty in Jeremy Best murder case​

The Teton County Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against Jeremy Best, a man accused of killing his wife, her unborn child and their toddler.

Bailey Smith, Teton County prosecuting attorney, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Wednesday evening. Best, 48, was indicted by a grand jury in December for three counts of first-degree murder and three enhancements for the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon during the commission of a crime.

“The state has received no such evidence, and found no mitigating circumstances that are sufficiently compelling to render imposition of the death penalty unjust in this case,” Smith wrote in her notice.

Jim Archibald, Best’s attorney, filed a notice last month asking Smith not to file the death penalty. Archibald argued Best did not kill his family out of malice but had a mental breakdown. Best has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

People that have mental breakdowns and can kill are still dangerous to society and need to be put away for life. At the least . I don’t like it when they are able to have a mental breakdown defense because then they get back out and they often kill again.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They are to weigh the risk to society (millions) versus one person staying locked up. The safety of society is (WAS?) to be a big factor and paramount.

It is what I thought of much with the Aidan Fucci case. He may be a minor but he is a total danger to society. A lot of talk of this standard came up in that case.

Like thek risk of reoffending yet they let all these sexual predators out most of who NEVER change. There is the blood of so many murdered victims and many are children due to releasing violent offendesr who are at total RISK of reoffending.

This man? Needs the DP or life with no "fake" life in prison but release after how many years. Chad Doerman is another in recent cases. Assuming they did it of course and are guilty and in both cases, it is pretty clear and cut and dried they did. They killed their own children and in this one his pregnant wife as well. I don't care waht mental issues he has, put him away and then get him some treatment while he is away for life OR give him the DP better yet. Or would be if they actually ever followed through on such.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Jury trial scheduled for Victor man accused of killing family - East Idaho News

A trial has been scheduled for Jeremy Best, who is accused of murdering his wife, his young son and the child his wife carried.

www.eastidahonews.com

Jury trial scheduled for Victor man accused of killing family​

A trial has been scheduled for Jeremy Best, who is accused of murdering his wife, her unborn baby, and their 10-month-old son.

During a Zoom hearing on Thursday, District Judge Dane Watkins Jr. scheduled a “number of weeks” for a jury trial on Sept. 15, 2025, in Teton County.

The next court proceeding is scheduled to be a pre-trial conference on August 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Court proceeds with first-degree murder charges in case of slain East Idaho family

A man from Eastern Idaho who is accused of killing his pregnant wife and their infant son will face first degree murder charges after Judge denies a motion to d

idahonews.com

Court proceeds with first-degree murder charges in case of slain East Idaho family
A man from Eastern Idaho who is accused of killing his pregnant wife and their infant son will face first-degree murder charges after Judge denies a motion to dismiss the case.
Best's defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that he suffered a mental health episode, meaning he could not have had malice aforethought, a required element to charge someone with first-degree murder. Defense attorneys further argued that the State should have opted for the lesser charge of second-degree murder or manslaughter, taking into consideration Best's alleged mental condition at the time of the crimes. Best was seen naked and disoriented in a general store in Swan Valley prior to the date in December.

After deliberating the motion to dismiss the charges, the Judge said in a written response that the Grand Jury was given enough evidence to support probable cause, and that evidence does support Best's actions were premeditated in killing Kali, her fetus, and their infant son Zeke.

The Judge went on to say that "While there may be evidence to support Best's defense that he lacked premeditation and malice, a grand jury does not cern itself with proof because the 'determination of guilt or innocence is saved for a later day.'"

The Judge's ruling concludes, "The grand jury had sufficient evidence before it to establish probable cause for the crime of first-degree murder. Dismissal of the Indictment is improper."

 

[GrandmaBear]

Good for the judge. Let them prove it during the trial process, up to it and at trial.

I also entirely disagree for instance if he was days of being messed up on drugs or something that that should count as a mental break or whatever and they aren't even calling it that, jus a mental health "episode". I've seen people get naked in public that are all drunk or drugged up or both. I've seen men start peeing on the floor so obliterating drunk they may even think they are in the bathroom or honestly they can't think at all.

This sure SEEMS premeditated.

We will see where it goes when it goes through the process and is tried.

Oh and not long ago where I work a woman wandered in in a bathrobe. 30s maybe, 40s. And you could tell something was wrong. She went to the shopping cars then looked confused, then she wandered back to the door and I thought she was going to leave, then back to the carts, and similar things and I was on a special checkout in an area of the store not near the front and it was busy and customers were concerned for her and pointing her out to me but I'd already taken notice. I honestly thought of something like dementia or mental health and that she may be wandered off from some home or something. I had someone get a hold of a manager but by the time they got there she had wandered out and I was busy and I tried to keep an eye on her as she walked through the parking lot but couldn't and I was very concerned she would be hit by a car or something. She was not "with it" whatsoEVER. Well later I was working in another area of he store and mentioned it to someone who has been there far longer than me and she told me that's so and so's daughter. So and so is another employee, a nice lady probably my age, maybe a bit older, been there for years. I don't know that she knew from guessing or if they had looked thought the cameras in an effort to see if she was okay and where she had went. We are plenty camera-ed up inside and out. The manager did rush out looking for her and had the radio with her to also tell them to do that I'm sure.

Anyhow, this other employee then went on to tell me what do you think it is, pretty clear it is drugs is what she was saying and then said a few more things, that she was ON something.

Once I "knew" who it was (don't know her but know the mom just as a coworker) I remembered the one time the coworker had someone with her and was talking to me in the store and was on her lunch break and it was clear it was her adult daughter and the adult daughter treated her nasty as HE77 and in public and all, it was terrible, mom pretty much just ignored it like didn't phase her but it was bad. She wasn't wearing a bathrobe spaced out bad, she just struck me as a drug user either coming down or in need or on something causing it was my first thought. I also thought how I would not put up with that kind of treatment. it kind of just clicked when I knew it was the same 30 or 40 year old woman. In fact her mom doesn't drive and I think she picks her up from work but boy bathrobe day, I think she was walking and no way should she have been driving.

While it sure affects their choices and mental state and such, I don't think using drugs or alcohol should EVER be a card to getting out of a crime and comparing it to true mental problems not caused by one's own behavior and choices and if any laws in any state actually do that or count that, then it should be stopped.

Maybe Zeke had mental issues or did not but neighbors sure didn't talk of them or him that way. I'd like to know his tox levels on all. I'm sure or would think the grand jury heard such. And they found it sounds like by the article PREMEDITATION too.

You know there is also the slim possibility the nudity was intentional and already setting up a defense of a mental break but I doubt it.

This woman in the bathrobe was just as strange of a sight but she was CLEARLY out of it but then who knows. She wandered into mom's workplace and had been pretty embarrassing and mean to her mother prior in a much more not messed up state... Others have known them both for years and there's no mental health thing, there's just probably a drug thing the way the ONE told me, I am not going to go ask others or gossip or try to find out as her mother is a very nice hard working woman.

Like the judge said, the GJ made its recommendation but they aren't the ones who then bring a verdict but a jury will or should hear all or much of the same evidence the GJ did.

Whatever the case, I'm sure the defense can find an expert to try to lean their way that it "sounds" like a mental break or some such. And I'm also sure he killed his unborn baby, his pregnant wife carrying that baby and his darling living son!

I have no sympathy and either way, he's not insane and ID doesn't even have an insanity defense anyhow. He deserves to be imprisoned for the rest of his life or put to death for that matter.

A quick Google shows it was repealed in 1982. I already knew they didn't have one so knew searching would do a quick hit. I did not go into this to look at source but I'm sure it's fact as I'd heard of it long before this case, there is NO insanity defense. Mental conditions cannot be used as a defense.

if a source is needed, I can darned well go get it but another late night and back tomorrow. We had three sets of people that thought they could keep shopping AFTER the store announced it was closed after a ten minute warning. I dealt with two men who clearly were not aware of it and very apologetic when they were still shopping 15 minutes later looking at batteries now. Just ignored the announcements I guess.

But I guarantee anyone who googles or searches "does ID have an insanity defense" can confirm this is fact. Here is what came up...:

No, Idaho does not have an insanity defense. In 1982, the Idaho Legislature repealed the state's insanity defense statute and passed a law that states that a defendant's mental condition cannot be used as a defense to any criminal charge. However, Idaho law does allow expert testimony about a defendant's mental condition to be used as evidence of intent or other state of mind that is an element of the crime. Additionally, courts are required to consider mental illness when determining a defendant's sentence.

Can't even USE it as a defense. I don't like everything about ID's legal system but I'll give them a few things I think all states should follow suit on and this is one of them. And so is the DP.

Tough sh*t Zeke "Best" (Worst is more fitting). You are NOT the victim here. Your entire family IS and no longer here thanks to YOU.

@Mel70 haven't tagged you in awhile and thought I would ask I also like to make sure you are alive and kicking and probably just like me or many others battling life issues. Can you believe they even tried this? But go ID with no insanity defense and with the DP right??!!!

Saying hello too as I never get to lately. Hope you check in here on this one to at least to comment and let me know you ARE around.