Bio

Craig Roger Gregerson was born on March 12, 1986. By July 2006, at age 20, he lived in a residence located just two doors away from the Norton family in central Salt Lake City, Utah.

Murder Story

On July 16, 2006, 5-year-old Destiny Norton left her home after an argument with her parents about taking a bath and disappeared from her backyard. According to authorities, Gregerson lured her into his nearby residence; when she began to scream, he suffocated her. He then sexually assaulted her body after her death and concealed her remains in a plastic storage container in his basement.

Destiny's disappearance prompted a massive search effort involving roughly 5,000 community volunteers alongside local police and the FBI, led by Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank. In a disturbing detail that only came to light after his arrest, Gregerson himself took part in the search for the girl, distributing missing-person fliers and canvassing the neighborhood, all while her body remained hidden in his own basement. After eight days, on July 24, 2006, police discovered Destiny's body in Gregerson's basement, less than 100 feet from her own home.

Gregerson was arrested shortly after the discovery of Destiny's body and confessed to the crime. He was formally charged on July 27, 2006, with aggravated murder, a capital offense, and first-degree felony child kidnapping.

On December 4, 2006, Gregerson pleaded guilty to both charges in a plea agreement with prosecutors, who agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange; the arrangement was specifically endorsed by Destiny's parents, who wished to avoid the emotional toll of a prolonged trial. Third District Judge Robin Reese immediately sentenced Gregerson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the aggravated murder charge, along with an additional 15 years to life for the child kidnapping charge, to be served consecutively.

Gregerson did not speak during the sentencing hearing, instead submitting a handwritten letter of apology to the Norton family, which the judge accepted into the court record. Destiny's mother, Rachael Norton, addressed the court without looking at Gregerson, calling him a "monster" and saying, "That man took everything from us when he took her." She described her daughter as "a good kid with lots of dreams about life."

Destiny's parents, Ricky and Rachael Norton, had married just two weeks before her disappearance. The case drew intense local and national media attention throughout the search and its aftermath, and Destiny was remembered by loved ones for her mischievous smile and green-streaked blonde hair.