The Murder of Chynna Toilolo
For this case, I watched an episode of Real Time Crime. It’s season 1 episode 5, titled ‘Under Siege/Where’s Chynna?’ Chynna’s case is featured in the second half of this episode.
A young woman disappears after spending time with her boyfriend.
Background
Lopine ‘Chynna’ Toilolo lived in Ogden, Utah, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City. She was just 30-years-old, and was extremely close to her family, especially her parents, Terrie and Sefuluai.
Chynna’s parents described her as beautiful, sweet, kind and caring.
Chynna Toilolo
The Disappearance
On May 10, 2020, Chynna never returned home to spend Mother’s Day with her family. Chynna was reminded the previous day about Mother’s Day, and she promised she wouldn't be gone long.
After not receiving any texts or calls back from her, Chynna’s family drove to the home of Chynna’s boyfriend, Andy Dennis. Andy was the last known person to see Chynna.
When the Toilolo’s showed up, Andy called the police. In the 911 call, he said that they were banging on his door and yelling. Andy’s kids were in the home at the time, and he said it was scaring them.
The police arrived, and spoke to Andy, which was captured on body cam footage. He explained that Chynna had asked him to pick her up from the Carl Jr.’s on May 9, around 10:30pm. He said they went back to his house, and she left in an Uber around 3-3:30am.
While the police were still there, Sefuluai wanted to speak to him. Andy denied hurting Chynna, and said he had last seen her in the early morning hours of May 10. The police had also learned that Chynna had texted her mom to say that she was heading home.
After walking out of the residence, Sefuluai told the police that Andy was lying and somehow involved.
The Discovery
The police learned from Chynna’s family that there was physical and verbal abuse in their relationship. Sefuluai said he never trusted or liked Andy.
The police obtained Chynna’s bank records. On May 9, Chynna had made a purchase at a gas station at 9:14pm. She was then seen driving away in her vehicle.
The police also learned that Chynna had never called an Uber, and never made a purchase for any ride share services.
On May 12, 2020, a 911 call came in around 5:51pm. A woman said that she and her friend had discovered a body in the Ogden Canyon. There was a tall cliff looking down to the river, and they had seen a pair of legs sticking out from some bushes.
A brown purse was located, and the ID inside belonged to Chynna. The police notified the Toilolo family. In this heartbreaking moment, Terrie and Sefuluai break down. Sefuluai can be heard saying that he knows who killed his daughter.
The Evidence
The police obtained Chynna and Andy’s phone records. The records showed that the phones had traveled together from Saturday, Sunday and into Monday.
Andy’s phone was seen traveling from his home in Pleasant View into West Jordan, where he picked Chynna up. They traveled back to his house, and eventually, Chynna’s phone stopped transmitting a signal.
On Monday, Andy’s phone had traveled into Ogden Canyon, and to the location where the police had found Chynna’s body.
The police were also able to find Andy’s car on the surveillance footage to the entrance of the canyon. He entered, and was unaccounted for about 50 minutes before his car was seen leaving again.
The Motive
Andy was asked to come into the police station for another interview. The police wanted to make it seem like it was still a missing persons investigation. They didn’t notify him that they had found Chynna.
Andy stuck to his original story. He said they returned to his house, and things were fine until Chynna started an argument with him. They had been fighting about their relationship. Andy wanted Chynna to stay closer to him and his kids, but she wanted to live closer to her family.
Andy was asked if he and Chynna left the house at all that weekend. Andy said he stayed home with his kids on Sunday and into Monday.
After hearing his lies, the police confronted Andy about the phone evidence. They also showed him pictures of his car from the canyon surveillance footage. Andy was also notified that Chynna’s body had been found.
Andy asked for a lawyer, and the interview ended. He was then released as the police didn’t have enough evidence to arrest him.
The Conviction
About a month after Chynna’s body was found, the police learned from the autopsy that Chynna had died from homicide by strangulation.
The police checked 911 call records from the night that Chynna went missing. They learned that one of Andy’s neighbors had called 911. She had heard yelling and banging from their house, and became afraid.
The woman also saw a woman, believed to be Chynna, leaving and walking back in the direction of Andy’s house. She took photos, and captured Chynna getting into Andy’s car.
The police believed that Andy was angry that Chynna didn’t want to live with him and his kids. He had wanted a family, but Chynna wanted to closer to her family.
Chynna thought that Andy was going to take her home, so she texted her mom that she was coming home. Instead, an altercation happened, Andy killed her and drove her out to the canyon.
At first, he was also charged with 1 count of abuse, description of a corpse and obstructing justice. These charges were dropped when Andy pled guilty to first degree felony murder. He was sentenced to 15 years to life.
Andy Dennis
FINAL THOUGHTS
This man ruined so many lives all because he wanted the perfect family. Chynna’s dad wasn’t happy about their relationship from the start, and was right all along. I’m sure he was hoping that his daughter was being taken care of and doted on. Instead, Andy was abusive and capable of hurting someone he claimed to love. It’s heartbreaking to see how much Chynna’s family love her and have to live without her now.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/chynna-toilolo-murder-where-is-andy-dane-oketang-dennis-now/
