A heartbreaking tragedy has resurfaced in the public eye as the story of 10-month-old Zeke Best continues to weigh heavily on the Idaho community. The infant was found dead just one day after an Amber Alert was issued for him, marking the devastating end to a frantic multi-agency search. The discovery came shortly after authorities located and arrested the child’s father, Jeremy Albert Best, who was already wanted in connection with the death of his wife.
The chain of events began with a call from a hunter traveling east of Idaho Falls who reported an alarming encounter on the roadside. The hunter described seeing a man lying in a sleeping bag, unclothed and speaking incoherently. According to authorities, “The caller stated the man was naked and making odd statements.” Officers arrived quickly and identified the individual as Jeremy Albert Best.
Just a day earlier, an arrest warrant had been issued for Best after officials in Teton County reported the kidnapping of his young son. As officers investigated the unusual roadside report, they expanded the search area and soon located Best’s vehicle in an embankment off the nearby road. What followed was the most devastating part of the unfolding scene: the discovery of baby Zeke’s body near the vehicle, prompting immediate involvement from state and federal investigators.
The case had already taken a grim turn before the Amber Alert was issued. Best was also a person of interest in the death of his wife, Kali Jean Randall, whose body had been found inside her Victor home. Authorities classified her death as a homicide, further intensifying the urgency surrounding the search for Zeke and the investigation into Best’s actions.
Law enforcement agencies from across the region — including Bonneville County detectives, Idaho State Police, and federal authorities — converged on the scene to begin processing evidence. Their efforts reflect the complex and deeply emotional nature of the case, which involves both the loss of a child and the violent death of a mother within a span of days.
As the full scope of the tragedy became clear, investigators moved swiftly to take Best into custody, bringing a temporary halt to a search effort that had gripped both local residents and neighboring communities.