Viewmont High, 2023

Excerpt from the written statement of Raelynn Shepherd, drama teacher at Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah; November 10, 1974:

"I got to school for the musical at 7:30 p.m., seated my husband in the auditorium, and started around the corner to the dressing rooms. I think it was about 7:45 at the time. The hall was dark, but I could see fairly well. A man who was standing alone halfway down the hall approached me as I walked toward the dressing rooms. He said, “Excuse me, but could you come out to the parking lot and try and identify a car for me?”

I said I was busy and asked if he needed any help; if so, I would try and find somebody for him. He said, “It’ll only take a few seconds, I just need to find out whose car this is.” I said, “I’m sorry” and went to the dressing rooms. His attitude really bugged me, as I told my husband that night.

I had been in the dressing room about a half hour or so when I came back down the hall to return to the auditorium (time 8:15-8:30). I was by myself and he was still standing in approximately the same place. I said, “Hi, did you find anybody yet?” He didn’t say a word, but just stared at me all the way down the hall.

I watched the play until I was supposed to help with a costume change, about 20 minutes later. I started back down the hall, my third trip, and again he was there (time about 8:50-9:00). He started coming towards me and said, “Hey, um, you really look nice.” I said “thanks.”

He said, “Are you sure you couldn’t help me out with this car, it’ll only take a few seconds.” I said, “I’m in a hurry right now, but my husband might be able to help.”

He said, “By the way,” and got too close, “do you know if Brent Olsen is around here?” I asked if he was a member of the cast or just a student, and he said “It’s no big deal, I was just wondering if you knew him.”

I left fast.

At intermission at 9:20-9:30 or so, I was standing by the front doors of the auditorium when he walked to the far west door and went out. I thought he was a real creep at the time because he didn’t even watch the show. I went in the auditorium and sat down on the back row, on the aisle seat.

At about 10:35, he came in the door to the rear of me, bent over the back divider for about 30 seconds, and then sat down straight across the aisle from me. His hair was messed up, and he was breathing hard enough that the people in front of him turned around to look back at him. He stayed about 3-5 minutes, and on the last curtain call, got up and left through the front doors..."

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Photos from my October 2023 trip to Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah, as well as some contemporaneous photos related to the school and Debra Kent's abduction. A lot has changed, but the brick dividers in the back are original-- the very same ones Ted leaned over, panting. The west parking lot area and autoshop location, probably where Ted parked, also remain the same. After explaining my reasons for wanting to visit and verifying that I was not a ghost hunter or something, the school admin allowed me into the auditorium to take pictures. The silence felt especially heavy and ominous, imagining what had happened there.

**Updated to include Raelynne Shepherd's written statement**