Utah Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter After Fatally Shooting Friend amid Botched Suicide Pact

Mar. 15, 2025

Brooklyn Barrett.Photo:Amy Mills/GoFundMe

Amy Mills/GoFundMe

A Utah woman accused ofmurdering her friend in a botched suicide pactearlier this year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, authorities confirmed.

Heavenly Faith Garfield pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and will be sentenced on Nov. 6, Timothy L. Taylor, Deputy Utah County Attorney, said in an emailed statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Sept. 27. She faces up to 15 years in prison, per the statement.

Heavenly Faith Garfield.courttv

courttv

“Investigators determined that Garfield and [her] friend had entered into a suicide pact and Garfield admitted to shooting [her] friend in the head,” Taylor said in the statement to PEOPLE. “After shooting [her] friend, Garfield did not go through with the suicide pact.”

According to the affidavit, the friends had reportedly been discussing the suicide pact for several weeks, family members said, the AP reported. The affidavit states a friend of the victim showed police text messages in which she said she wanted to die, but was too scared to kill herself. The friend also confirmed Garfield’s suicide pact with the victim to police, per the AP.

Barrett was remembered on the GoFundMe campaign created to support her parents in the wake of her death as a “vibrant and promising young woman.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“Her unexpected departure has left her loved ones grappling with the immense pain and burden, preferring to focus on honoring her memory and celebrating the beautiful life she lived,” the fundraiser continued.

According to herobituary, Barrett was a 2021 graduate of Herriman High School and worked at a daycare prior to her death. She also enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors, the obituary states.

Taylor said the victim’s family “supported the resolution.”

source: people.com