An Idaho father accused of killing his pregnant wife before running off with their baby has appeared blank in his mugshot – as relatives of the alleged victims speak out about their “unimaginable” pain.
Mechanic Jeremy Albert Best, 48, looked dazed and disheveled amid wild hair and a gray beard in the booking photo taken a day after he was found naked in a forest near the body of his dead 10-month-old son.
Police believe Best killed his wife, Kali Jean Randall, 38, at their home in Victor, Idaho, on Thursday before kidnapping their baby, Zeke Gregory Best.
Randall's niece, Meg Fischer, released a statement on behalf of her family thanking friends for their support amid horrific circumstances.
“We thank you all for walking with us during this time,” Fischer said in a message to Eastern Idaho News.
Idaho father Jeremy Albert Best, who is accused of killing his pregnant wife before running off with their baby, appears blank-faced in his mugshot released Sunday
Best, 48, looked dazed and disheveled amid wild hair and a gray beard in the booking photo, taken a day after he was found naked in a forest near the body of his dead 10-month-old son
Police believe Best killed his wife, Kali Jean Randall, 38, and kidnapped their baby, Zeke Gregory Best, from their home in Victor, Idaho, on Thursday. (Photo: Randall and Zeke)
Best was seen walking naked through a Swan Valley General store on Thursday, prior to his wife's alleged murder
'Our Zeke is now at rest with his loving mother and unborn brother or sister. The pain we feel is unimaginable and we thank everyone for their support.
“You will never know how you have lifted our family up during this time. Because this is an ongoing investigation, we ask for privacy as we take time to process and grieve.”
Fischer previously said she was “stunned” to learn that Randall was also expecting her second child at the time of her death.
Fischer paid tribute to her cousin, saying: “She was a beautiful and free spirit.
“She was called to the mountains and made her home there. She was a lover of animals, especially her dogs.
“Motherhood was her greatest joy and we believe she gave her life to protect her children. We love her endlessly.”
Footage obtained by East Idaho News shows Best walking naked through the Swan Valley General store about 24 hours before the kidnapping.
Best seen in the video with a cigarette in his mouth as he strolls across the counter of the store next to the cash register.
Officers from the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office responded to the store and identified Best.
He was evaluated by ambulance crews outside the store and was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for mental health concerns.
Zeke Gregory Best was only 10 months old. He was found dead in a forest on Saturday morning
Kali Jean Randall was found unconscious in her home in the Idaho city, and her death is being investigated as a homicide
An amber alert was issued for Best at 4.30am on Friday morning, with police warning that he was 'heavily armed'
It remains unclear what happened at the hospital, but a spokesperson confirmed that Best was discharged on Thursday afternoon.
Later that day, officers arrived at the family home in Victor and found Randall unconscious, with her death treated as a homicide.
An amber alert was issued for the couple's child at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning, with police saying Best was last seen driving a black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with an Idaho license plate 1T39349.
They warned the public not to approach the 'heavily armed' 6ft 1in white male suspect and asked anyone with information to come forward.
Saturday morning, hunters discovered Best resting in a sleeping bag off Kepps Crossing Road near Dan Creek Road, east of Idaho Falls, and called police.
Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies rushed to the scene and identified Best, placing him in a patrol car until medics arrived to treat him for any injuries.
His black Chevrolet was found along a nearby embankment next to the roadway. Officers combed the area and found Zeke's body.
In a statement from the family, they said: 'In the wake of the devastating loss of our beloved Kali and her unborn baby, our family is overwhelmed with grief and sadness.
According to Randell's social media, Zeke was born in late January
Best owns a local mechanic shop in Victor, Idaho called Jeremy's Auto and has been a mechanic for twenty years
Police said Best was last seen in a black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, which they later found close to the woods, where he was found naked in a sleeping bag by hunters.
An orange alert was issued for the couple's child at 4:30 am on Friday morning
“Our hearts ache and our focus is entirely on the safe return of baby Zeke.
“In the midst of every family's worst nightmare, we humbly ask for privacy as we focus our energies on the safe return of Kali's beloved son, Zeke.”
Best owns a local mechanic shop in Victor, Idaho called Jeremy's Auto and has been a mechanic for twenty years.
His company website says, “Meet Jeremy Best, your local mechanic and new best friend.”
Jeremy said that when he's not fixing cars, he's “enjoying the sun on his pleasure boat” or “driving the country lanes with his wife Kali and three dogs.”