A wealthy Mormon dad posted a chilling final Instagram message before shooting his wife dead and killing himself at their stunning $1.5m Utah home.
Olin Johnson, 57, from American Fork, Utah shot his 52-year-old wife Kerilyn Johnson dead before turning the gun on himself. The tragedy left six children orphaned.
In his final posting to social media on Wednesday, just a day before his suicide, Johnson wrote: ‘No matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too.’
Johnson could be seen wearing his helmet while sat on his Triumph motorbike, one of his favorite hobbies.
Two of his children responded directly to their father’s post.
Olin Johnson, 57, from American Fork, Utah shot his 52-year-old wife Kerilyn Johnson dead before turning the gun on himself
In his final posting to social media on Wednesday, just a day before his suicide, Johnson wrote: ‘No matter how crappy a person I am, motorcycles always love me back. Oh and skiing. Skiing loves me too.’
Two of his children, son, Dillon Bay, and daughter, Savanna, responded directly to their father’s post telling him how much they loved him
The couple’s bodies were discovered by family members at 12:40pm on Thursday at their $1.5 million home in American Fork, Utah
‘Your not a crappy person. Your the best dad in the world,’ one of his son’s, Dillon Bay, wrote.
‘Love you dad and loved that you taught me to be a badass and ride motorcycles!’ daughter, Savanna added.
No motive for the murder-suicide has yet been given and it is unclear if the Instagram post was a reference to marital trouble.
Online, Olin appeared to love his family. ‘Father to 6 great kids and one Beautiful Wife,’ he wrote in his Instagram profile.
The couple appeared to have it all, not least their stunning family home set in the middle of rural Utah.
Their social media pages are evidence of a life well lived, with plenty of time spent with their children, some of whom were married.
The pair also looked to take time out for themselves, enjoying alone time away from family as they embarked on on vacations to Europe, Australia and other parts of the States. The great outdoors was always a priority for the pair.
While Olin would focus on his business and outdoor actives, particularly biking and skiing, wife, Kerilyn, loved to cook, spend time with her children, and even took to the stage singing in musicals with local amateur theater companies.
But behind the screens, he appeared to have been in turmoil, although the reason for his shocking act of violence remains unknown for now.
The couple are pictured surrounded by their six children, together with other family mambers
To the outside world, the couple appeared to have a loving relationship where they would travel together and take part in outdoor activities
Police rushed to the scene of the sprawling family home just after 12:40pm on Thursday after receiving reports that two people had been shot after the bodies were discovered by another family member.
‘Based on the investigation, it appears that Olin fatally shot Kerilyn before fatally shooting himself,’ American Fork police said in a statement
‘We’re not real sure what led up to it, but he shot her twice and then shot himself, ending his life,’ said American Fork Police Lt. Stuart Fore.
Olin and Kerilyn Johnson are pictured alongside two of their younger children out on a hike
Kerilyn looked to be a good cook as she provided for her family of eight
Fore also said that there were no signs of struggle or argument before the killings.
He did not go into any further details about the crime scene.
‘At this point, the family is requesting privacy as they grieve their loss. We express our most profound and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Olin and Kerilyn,’ the American Fork Police Department said in a statement, later classifying the two deaths as a murder-suicide.
‘Kerilyn was literally one of the most generous, kind, supportive people that I have ever known,’ said Gayle Lockwood, a retired voice teacher at Bringham Young University who had Johnson as a student.
‘She is a light that will be missed in the world,’ Lockwood told KUTV.
Olin loved to get out and about on the open road and ride his Triumph motorcycle
Johnson’s job involving the building of firing ranges also saw him acquire quite the collection of weaponry, much of which was also photographed and displayed on his Instagram account
Kerilyn Johnson was herself a voice coach and singing teacher at BYU, mentoring hundreds of people across Utah County.
‘My hope is that people will continue to think and pray for her family,’ Lockwood said. ‘These children are going to need a lot of love and support for a long time to come.’
Kerilyn’s husband, Olin Johnson, ran his own company, Simtek Modular, which specializes in making small arms firing ranges that can be used for training by the military and police.
Olin was also known to be into outdoor pursuits enthusiast with a love of mountaineering, climbing, caving, mountain biking and riding dirt bikes.
His job involving the building of firing ranges also saw him acquire quite the collection of weaponry, much of which was also photographed and displayed on his Instagram account.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the six Johnson children who are left behind. The six range in age from late teens to adults.
