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Violent assault ruled out in death of Utah family

By WTOP Staff

LINDSAY WHITEHURST
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Five family members found dead in a bedroom at their Utah home over the weekend weren’t shot or stabbed, but their causes of death could remain a mystery for weeks, police said Monday.

A couple and three of their children were found by an older son in the parents’ bedroom in Springville, near Provo, police Lt. Dave Caron said.

A preliminary autopsy found they weren’t killed by violent assault. A test of air in the house by firefighters did not find any carbon monoxide, but investigators said the family could still have been poisoned by gas if it dissipated before the test.

There were no signs of a struggle, and police didn’t find any notes or other evidence that would indicate what killed them, Caron said.

“I really don’t like an unsolved mystery … those kind of things grate on you,” he said.

Medical examiners were analyzing blood samples from all five people, but the process usually takes at least six weeks and sometimes months. Police also intend to analyze beverages and food the family might have consumed.

Asked if foul play has been ruled out, Caron said, “I don’t rule out anything … We haven’t ruled out anything except there was no violent trauma. We’re going to look at everything.”

The bodies were found Saturday night about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City. They were identified as Benjamin Strack, 37, his wife, Kristi, 36, and three of their children, Benson, 14, Emery, 12, and Zion, 11.

The family was gathered in the room with a big-screen TV, Caron said.

An older son, about 18, made the discovery after going to the duplex when he did not hear from the family as expected. His name was not released.

Jim Phillips, a friend acting as a spokesman, said the Strack family wasn’t ready to comment.

“The family is obviously grieving their loss,” he said. “They’re coming together and have asked for understanding and patience.”

Benjamin Strack worked off-and-on for six to seven years at AK Masonry, a bricklaying company, and had borrowed money in the past, owner Alex Short said.

“He borrowed some money to pay rent,” Short said. “That money still hasn’t been repaid.”

Short said Strack was a good employee when on the job but often didn’t show up for days at a stretch.

“We hadn’t seen him for the last two weeks,” Short said.

Court records show Benjamin and Kristi Strack pleaded guilty to misdemeanor forgery charges in 2008 and disorderly conduct the following year.

Police said the family’s financial history and other personal details aren’t part of their investigation, but the scope could widen if they find foul play was involved. Phillips declined to comment.

The duplex is located on a road to a high school in Springville, a city of 30,000 people south of Provo.

The children were homeschooled, neighbors told the Deseret News. The family was kind, but kept to themselves and the children were shy, Reilly Strecker, who lives in the other half of the duplex, told the newspaper.

___

AP writer Alina Hartounian in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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