By Travis Uresk
7/26/23
Vernal, Ut.- On 7/19/23, Deputies were notified of a possible rape that occurred South of Vernal.
On 7/20/23, the female victim was located and identified as being 15 years old.
A medical exam was conducted, and evidence of an assault was found. An interview with the victim was conducted at the Children's Justice Center in Vernal.
During the interview, the victim disclosed while being held at the home of 61-year-old Kenneth John Zufelt, and he provided her with methamphetamine. The victim believed Kenneth may have laced her with an unknown substance because she became debilitated.
The victim stated that Kenneth sodomized and raped her with himself and a foreign object.
The victim also stated that Kenneth knew her age because, during their first conversation, she told him she was only 15 years old. The victim also showed the Detective's text messages on her phone that were from Kenneth. The message is too explicit to share.
A search warrant was requested and approved for the search of Zufelt's bedroom, where the assault occurred. Multiple items were confiscated during the search, including suspected methamphetamine, MDNA, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Kenneth Zufelt was booked into the Uintah County Jail without bail.
