SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Anika Celeste Thorpe was sentenced today in Third District Court for her involvement in the 2020 murder of Linda Nemelka, a woman tragically killed during a botched carjacking as she left a friend’s house. Thorpe, 33, will serve one to fifteen years in prison for manslaughter and one to fifteen years for robbery. These sentences will run concurrently, but consecutive to the sentences Thorpe is already serving for prior convictions.
Thorpe entered a plea deal with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, bringing closure to a five-year-long investigation. Deputy District Attorney Vince Meister outlined the challenges prosecutors faced in building the case, including conflicting statements from Thorpe’s co-defendant, James Dekota Brunson, who had previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December.
“There were issues as far as what actually happened at the scene,” Meister told Judge James Blanch, referring to discrepancies in the accounts given by Brunson. Meister explained that Brunson’s statements appeared to minimize Thorpe’s role in the crime, though prosecutors dismissed these as implausible. One key inconsistency involved two sets of footprints running away from the scene, which Brunson attempted to explain by claiming he had returned to close the victim’s car door, a claim contradicted by witnesses who found the door still open.
Thorpe’s defense attorney, Andrea Martinez, acknowledged her client’s involvement but argued that Thorpe was less culpable. Martinez highlighted Thorpe’s struggles with substance abuse, noting that she had been undergoing treatment in prison. The defense also emphasized that Thorpe accepted responsibility in order to spare Nemelka’s family further legal proceedings.
In a written statement submitted to the court, Thorpe expressed regret for the harm caused by the crime, acknowledging the devastating impact on Nemelka’s family and her own loved ones. However, Meister criticized Thorpe’s statement, noting her failure to fully accept responsibility for the murder. He pointed to her impersonal references to Nemelka, calling her “the woman” rather than using her name, which Meister described as “disingenuous and arguably manipulative.”
While Thorpe’s statement expressed sorrow, Meister contended that her language suggested a lack of true remorse. He also pointed to her continued misconduct in prison, including 19 violations and a recent drug-related offense, as evidence of her ongoing disregard for authority and rehabilitation.
The victim’s family delivered powerful statements during the sentencing, with Alicia Nemelka Rahl, Nemelka’s youngest daughter, breaking down in tears as she addressed the court. Rahl described the profound emotional toll her mother’s murder has had on her, including recurring trauma and the overwhelming sense of loss she continues to feel. She recalled a recent significant life event, her wedding, which was deeply affected by her mother’s absence.
Rahl also directed her anger at both Thorpe and the justice system, criticizing the failure of parole supervision that allowed repeat offenders like Thorpe and Brunson to continue committing violent crimes. “Parole clearly did not work,” Rahl said, calling for the perpetrators to remain incarcerated for the safety of society.
Judge Blanch accepted the plea agreement, issuing the recommended sentences while noting the ongoing impact the crime had on Nemelka’s family. The case is a tragic reminder of the consequences of violent crime and the challenges of seeking justice for both victims and their families.
As part of her sentence, Thorpe’s time will be served concurrently with her previous convictions, and she will face a future parole hearing determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, which will assess when she may be eligible for release.
This case, which went unsolved for over a year, underscores the long-lasting pain caused by violent crime and the struggle for accountability. While justice has been served in part, the emotional scars left on the victim’s family will persist long after the legal proceedings have ended.