An Idaho man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killings of his pregnant wife and 10-month-old son. Jeremy Albert Best, 50, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after receiving three consecutive life sentences for what prosecutors have called one of the most depraved crimes in the state’s history. The case has left a family shattered and a community shaken.
What Happened to Kali and Zeke Best
On November 30, 2023, a disturbing 911 call led deputies to the home of Jeremy and Kali Best in Victor, Idaho. There, they found 39-year-old Kali Best unresponsive inside the home, fatally shot multiple times in the back. Detectives learned that her 10-month-old son, Zeke, was missing, and an Amber Alert was issued.
Tragically, two days later, hunters near Idaho Falls reported a naked man in a sleeping bag on the side of the road. That man turned out to be Jeremy Best. Not far from the scene, deputies located his vehicle in a nearby embankment and found Zeke’s lifeless body inside. His throat had been slit.
The Sentencing and Charges
On Thursday, District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. handed down three consecutive life sentences — one each for the murders of Kali Best, their unborn daughter Freya, and baby Zeke. Jeremy Best had pleaded guilty in February to first-degree murder in Zeke’s death, and to second-degree murder for killing his wife and unborn child.
Prosecutors from Teton and Bonneville Counties said the plea agreement came after mediation and input from Kali’s grieving family members.
A Troubled Marriage and Warning Signs
Teton County Prosecutor Bailey Smith revealed that the couple had a “rocky and quite volatile” relationship, strained by financial problems and Jeremy Best’s drug use. Text messages showed that Jeremy was in financial distress and frequently discussed his struggles to pay bills. In one message, Kali mentioned he wanted to “sell everything and leave with just a backpack.”
Smith described the crimes as acts of “family annihilation,” committed by a man who had made years of selfish and dangerous choices.
Family Testimonies in Court
During a heartbreaking three-day sentencing hearing, family members gave emotional statements. Kali’s sister, Emma Brice, said she was the first in the family to learn of the killings.
“I was the first to find out that one of the most beautiful humans on this earth, my sister Kali, had been horrifically murdered, that our sweet baby Freya was gone, and that the happiest, most love-filled baby boy, Zeke, was missing — all at the hands of the very person we trusted to keep her safe,” she said.
Emma also shared how the trauma continues to haunt them, saying, “I can still hear my mother’s screams… I hear them in the quiet. And I hear them when I look at my own child and realize how fragile everything truly is.”
The Initial Arrest and Shocking Behavior
Before the murders were discovered, Best was seen wandering naked through a general store in Swan Valley. Video footage showed him slumped over a counter. He was taken to a hospital for mental and medical evaluation, then released. Less than 12 hours later, his wife was found murdered, and Zeke was missing.
Authorities said Best kidnapped Zeke and attempted to flee. When found days later, Best was again naked and behaving oddly. He was arrested near Idaho Falls, and Zeke’s body was found in his crashed vehicle.
Remembering Kali Best
Kali’s cousin, Meg Fischer, said she had fallen in love with Idaho’s mountains and made her home there. “She was a lover of animals, especially her dogs. Motherhood was her greatest joy, and we assume she gave her life protecting her children. We love her endlessly.”
This horrific case of domestic violence and family tragedy has left an unhealable scar on those who loved Kali, Zeke, and Freya. Jeremy Best will never walk free again, but the pain he caused continues to echo through the lives of the victims’ family. As the community mourns, this case stands as a devastating reminder of the need for awareness, support, and safety in households affected by abuse, addiction, and mental health struggles.
