SOUTH SALT LAKE -- The mother-in-law of Utah Jazz owner Greg Miller was found dead with "obvious" stab wounds at a business in South Salt Lake Tuesday afternoon.
"It was an obvious stabbing and she is deceased," said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller.
Keller said 64-year-old Sherry Black's husband Earl went into B & W Billiards and Book at 3466 S. 700 East about 1:43 p.m. and found her deceased.
"The husband discovered her," said Keller. "It's a residence with a business next door, and he walked into the business and discovered her body."
Miller and his wife were at the scene Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, Miller said, "Today, our family suffered an unimaginable loss. My mother-in-law, Sherry Black, was taken from us in a senseless act of violence."
He continued, "My wife, Heidi, and I ask that you please keep our father, Earl, as well as the entire Black family in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time.
Neighbors say Sherry Black and her husband own B & W Billiards and Books. They say Sherry ran the book portion of the store and Earl made custom knives and billiard tables.
Neighbor Mary Wade described Sherry Black as quiet, a book lover, and she wonders why anyone would want to harm her.
"Their house is always quiet," she said. "They seemed to be liked by everybody."
Wade says she recently told Earl Black he was the best neighbor a person could ask for.
It was not immediately known if the business was open or if anyone else was present at the time of the stabbing. The South Salt Lake Police Department is the investigating agency in the case.
Stay tuned to ksl.com, KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM and KSL TV for the latest updates.
