Sisters Recount Deadly Christmastime Attack at Utah Cabin — Survival, Justice and Forgiveness

Dec 21•4 min read

Summary: In winter 1990, sisters Linae (20) and Trish (16) Tiede returned to their remote Oakley, Utah cabin and were met by two armed intruders. Their mother, Kaye, and grandmother, Beth, were killed; their father, Rolf, survived critical wounds. Investigators recovered a videotape and other evidence that helped convict Von Taylor (who received two death sentences) and Edward Deli (convicted of second-degree murder and imprisoned for life). Years later Linae chose to forgive Deli to reclaim emotional freedom, and the family rebuilt the cabin as part of their healing.

Note: This story originally aired March 9, 2013, and was updated Dec. 20, 2025.

The Tiede family called their remote Oakley, Utah retreat "Tiede's Tranquility" — a snowbound cabin set two-and-a-half miles from the road and reachable by snowmobile in winter. What began as a peaceful family Christmas in 1990 became a night of violence, fire and survival. In their first extended television interview, sisters Linae and Trish Tiede recount the attack that killed their mother and grandmother, critically wounded their father, and ultimately tested the family's faith, justice system and capacity to heal.

The Attack

Linae, 20, and Trish, 16, arrived at the cabin with their mother, Kaye Tidwell Tiede, and their grandmother, Beth Tidwell Potts. Linae ran ahead to warm her hands and spotted movement behind the refrigerator. What she first thought was a prank turned out to be an armed intruder. Seconds later another man pointed a gun at her mother. When Kaye pleaded, 'What is it you want? Why are you here? I'll give you anything,' gunfire erupted. Kaye and Beth were killed. Linae initially believed both women were dead.

Abduction, Arson and a Desperate Escape

The two intruders had not been surprised by the family; they had waited for their return, eaten food, and opened presents. When Trish and their father, Rolf, arrived by snowmobile, masked men forced them inside and tried to execute Rolf — who survived after being shot with birdshot and, later, doused with gasoline and set aflame before extinguishing the fire and fleeing to summon help.

The assailants poured gasoline through the cabin and set it alight, then forced Linae and Trish onto snowmobiles with the men riding behind them. The sisters drove the intruders away from the burning cabin in hopes of reaching help. At the main gate they saw Uncle Randy Zorn, who later discovered Rolf badly wounded in a car nearby and frantically arranged for emergency assistance.

Rescue and Crime-Scene Evidence

Local law enforcement and neighbors intercepted the suspects after a high-speed chase ended when the car went off an embankment. Officers recovered two suspects from the vehicle and secured the scene. Inside the cabin, investigators found a grisly scene — bullet holes, blood smears and two bodies — and crucially, a VCR camera and tapes that would later prove pivotal in linking the suspects to the crime.

Investigation and Trials

Authorities identified the suspects as Von Taylor and Edward Deli, both in their early to mid-20s with prior convictions and recently released from a halfway house. Prosecutors charged them with multiple crimes including murder, aggravated kidnapping and arson. Taylor pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder and was sentenced to death by a jury. Deli went to trial; the jury deadlocked on first-degree murder and convicted him of second-degree murder, resulting in life imprisonment. The mixed outcomes left family members divided and grieving, with some expressing that justice was incomplete.

Aftermath, Forgiveness and Rebuilding

The emotional aftermath remained intense and private. Trish described years of anger and hidden grief; Linae described fear and difficulty trusting, and later recounted receiving a letter from Deli. Almost nine years after the attack she chose to respond and ultimately decided to forgive him — not to lessen his punishment, which she believes should remain, but to free herself from the burden of hate. Linae married, raised children and says surviving became a gift she can share with others. The family rebuilt the burned cabin and returned to it as a place of healing.

Legacy

The Tiede case underscores the role of physical evidence — especially the videotape found at the crime scene — in securing convictions. It also highlights the complex aftermath for survivors and families of violent crime: relief at arrests and convictions, frustration over sentencing outcomes, and long, personal journeys toward healing and forgiveness.