THE LATEST: Nationwide manhunt for murder suspect after woman found buried in basement
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IDAHO FALLS — A nationwide manhunt is underway for an Idaho Falls man accused of killing a woman and burying her in the basement of her Bonneville County home.
Jeremy White, 39, is wanted for second-degree murder after the body of Christin Caldwell, 48, was found inside a home on the 3100 block of South 35th West early Friday morning.
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“Caldwell had been in regular contact with her family but they lost contact with her Monday,” Bonneville County Sheriff Paul Wilde said during a news conference Friday. “There has been no local contact with Jeremy White since Tuesday and on Thursday, Caldwell’s family reported her missing.”
Family members tell EastIdahoNews.com Caldwell and White had been in a relationship for over 10 years. They had recently moved into the home on 35th West.
Detectives obtained a search warrant Thursday night and discovered Caldwell’s body buried in the basement.
“It was a dirt floor and he was able to dig a hole,” Wilde said. “That’s about all I will discuss about that.”
Wilde said Caldwell was killed earlier this week before White left the area on Wednesday with Deena Rane Aday of Idaho Falls. They are believed to be traveling in a 2004 silver Jeep Cherokee with Idaho license plate 8B HV461.
“We don’t know exactly what that relationship is, but they are at least friends,” Wilde said. “She is considered in danger until we make contact with her.”
White has family in Nevada, but destination is unknown. Law enforcement agencies across the country have been notified that he is on the run, and the sheriff said detectives are following up on all leads.
Caldwell’s family members tell EastIdahoNews.com they were “stunned” to learn Christin had been killed.
“Her heart was for people,” said Nancy Waters, Caldwell’s older sister. “She was a person who loved to help people. She loved children and grandbabies, and she just loved people.”
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Caldwell was born in Walla Walla, Washington, and grew up in Tri-Cities area with her three sisters. She moved to Idaho Falls as a teenager and raised three children.
She most recently worked as a social worker and “would have given you everything she had if you absolutely needed it,” Waters said.
“She called mom five days a week at 5 p.m. when she got off work just to talk to her,” Waters said. “Her children and her grandbabies were everything to her. She will be so missed.”
Wilde said an autopsy will be performed Saturday, Nov. 12, to determine how Caldwell died. He would not confirm if a weapon had been found inside the home or on the property.
However, White is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of White or Aday to call (208) 529-1200.
WATCH THE ENTIRE NEWS CONFERENCE REGARDING CALDWELL’S MURDER HERE: