Ten-month-old Zeke Gregory Best was killed by his father, Jeremy Albert Best, 48, who inflicted a fatal knife wound to the infant's neck sometime between November 30 and December 2, 2023. Approximately 12 hours before the killings began, Jeremy Best had been found naked at a store and was transported to a hospital for medical and mental health concerns but was discharged the same day. That evening, on November 30, Zeke's pregnant mother, Kali Jean Randall (Best), 38, was found shot to death at the family home in Victor, Idaho, and Zeke was discovered to be missing. An Amber Alert was issued on December 1. On December 2, hunters found Jeremy Best naked in a sleeping bag on the side of a road east of Idaho Falls, and Zeke was found dead nearby. Jeremy Best was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife, their unborn child, and Zeke, with enhancements for use of a firearm and knife.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
A firearm was used in the commission of the broader crimes in this case. The Post Register (Document 3) states Best faces "three enhancements for using a firearm and a knife in the commission of the murders." KTVB (Document 4) states that Best killed Kali "by shooting her with a firearm and causing her death," and the unborn child died as a result. While Zeke himself was killed by a knife, the firearm incident is central to the same case and the death of his mother and unborn sibling.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple documents describe the inflicted injury that killed Zeke. The Post Register (Document 3) states: "Suspected murderer Jeremy Best killed his son, 10-month-old Zeke, with a knife wound to the infant's neck." KTVB (Document 4) reports the indictment states Best killed Zeke by "inflicting an injury on Zeke Gregory Best's neck using a knife and thereby causing his death." The Idaho News article (Document 2) similarly notes Jeremy "inflicted an injury on the boy's neck that caused his death."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
KTVB (Document 4) reports that "Idaho State Police deputies found the vehicle Best had fled in down an embankment, off the roadway." This constitutes a motor vehicle incident as part of the case narrative, though the child's cause of death was a knife wound to the neck, not the vehicle incident. It is unclear whether Zeke was in the vehicle at the time it went down the embankment.
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Jeremy Albert Best is Zeke's biological father and was charged with his murder. People (Document 1) refers to Best as having been "found naked next to his dead 10-month-old child" and mentions "Best and Randall's 10-month-old child Zeke Gregory Best." KTVB (Document 4) states Best was "charged with an additional count of first-degree murder for the death of his 10-month-old son Zeke Gregory Best."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Jeremy Albert Best was arrested and charged with murder of his son. People (Document 1) reports Best "was taken to the Bonneville County Jail after he was medically cleared." KTVB (Document 4) confirms he was "charged with an additional count of first-degree murder for the death of his 10-month-old son Zeke Gregory Best" and "is being held in the Bonneville County Jail without bond."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the case describes Jeremy Best shooting and killing his wife Kali in their home. KTVB (Document 4) states Best "deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought" killed Kali by "shooting her with a firearm and causing her death." The Post Register (Document 3) also states that "approximately 12 hours before Randall was shot to death" by Best. This spousal homicide constitutes domestic violence. Kali's brother also told PEOPLE (Document 1) he "was not aware of any conflicts between the couple," which addresses the topic of domestic relations even as it denies prior knowledge.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple documents reference Best's mental health. The Post Register (Document 3) reports that approximately 12 hours before killing his wife, Best was found naked at a store: "Best was evaluated by EMS on scene and transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ambulance" and "Best was turned over to hospital staff for further medical and mental health concerns." He was discharged from the hospital the same day. KTVB (Document 4) reports a "mental competency evaluation ordered by the court" and that "Best has been found fit to continue in court proceedings." The hospital's statement in Document 3 also notes limitations on placing individuals on a "protective custody hold unless specific clinical criteria are met."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The Post Register (Document 3) reports a critical detail: approximately 12 hours before Kali Randall was shot to death, Bonneville County deputies responded to a report of "a naked man walking through" the Swan Valley General Store, identified as Jeremy Best. He "was evaluated by EMS on scene and transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ambulance" for "further medical and mental health concerns" but was discharged the same day. The hospital later issued a statement noting that "state law limits law enforcement, hospitals, and health care providers from placing individuals on a protective custody hold unless 'specific clinical criteria are met.'" Additionally, Document 3 reports that "on Dec. 12 the state subpoenaed Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center representatives to appear at the Teton County Courthouse...and to bring all of Best's medical records." This sequence raises significant questions about whether the hospital's discharge of Best constituted a systemic failure in mental health crisis response that may have allowed the subsequent murders to occur.
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