CBS’s 48 Hours revisits one of Utah’s most haunting crimes in its Live to Tell special “Three Days Before Christmas”, airing Sunday, December 21, 2025. The episode tells the devastating story of the Tiede family’s Christmas vacation turned nightmare. With first-person testimony from survivors Linae and Tricia Tiede, the special recounts the brutal 1990 home invasion, double murder, arson, kidnapping, and subsequent legal battles that followed.
- Who is Von Lester Taylor & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background
- Who is Edward Steven Deli & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background
The Attack at the Oakley Cabin
On December 22, 1990, the Tiede family arrived at their remote cabin in Oakley, Utah, for a holiday retreat. Unknown to them, two armed fugitives, Von Lester Taylor and Edward Steven Deli, had already broken into the home. Taylor and Deli were parolees from a Salt Lake City halfway house who had gone AWOL and entered the mountainous region to burglarize cabins.
When Kaye Tiede, her mother Beth Potts, and daughter Linae arrived first, they were taken hostage at gunpoint. Minutes later, both women were shot and killed. Linae was spared, only to be held as a hostage. Hours later, Rolf Tiede and his younger daughter Tricia arrived, unaware of the violence. Rolf was shot in the face but survived, managing to escape the burning cabin and seek help.
Kidnapping and Escape
Taylor and Deli set the cabin on fire, doused Rolf in gasoline, and left him for dead. As the flames engulfed the building, the attackers forced Linae and Tricia at gunpoint to drive them away on snowmobiles. Their uncle, Randy Zorn, saw the group pass by but failed to recognize the threat. Fearing for his life, the girls didn’t cry out.
Eventually, Taylor and Deli abandoned the snowmobiles and forced the girls into the family car. By then, Rolf had reached help, sparking an urgent manhunt. Police caught up with the vehicle and apprehended the suspects after a chase and exchange of gunfire. Linae and Tricia were physically unharmed but left with deep emotional scars.
The Legal Proceedings: Two Killers, Two Outcomes
Both men were charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Taylor pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder. In May 1991, a jury sentenced him to death. He selected lethal injection as his method of execution. His sentence has since withstood numerous appeals, and as of 2025, Taylor remains on death row at the Utah State Correctional Facility.
Deli, in contrast, pleaded not guilty and went to trial. Though the prosecution pushed for aggravated murder, one juror’s dissent led to a second-degree murder conviction. Despite testimony indicating Deli held a .44 Magnum during the killings, the juror cited reasonable doubt about whether he pulled the trigger. Deli was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms, later determined to be without parole.
Appeals and Controversy
Over the decades, both Taylor and Deli pursued multiple appeals. Taylor’s conviction was briefly overturned in 2020 by a federal judge due to claims of insufficient evidence that he fired the fatal shots. However, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling in 2021, stating that under Utah law, an accomplice to aggravated murder is equally culpable. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in 2022.
Deli also appealed his sentence, arguing it was excessively harsh. The Utah Supreme Court rejected his appeal in 1993. Both men remain incarcerated: Taylor on death row and Deli serving life without the possibility of parole at Central Utah Correctional Facility.
Aftermath and Survivor Strength
The Tiede family’s suffering did not end with the trials. Rolf Tiede filed a civil lawsuit against the state, arguing negligence in allowing two violent parolees to roam free. The lawsuit was dismissed, with the Utah Supreme Court citing governmental immunity.
Despite the tragedy, the surviving family members found resilience. Linae and Tricia Tiede rebuilt their lives, often revisiting the trauma to help others understand the impact of violent crime. Their testimony on 48 Hours highlights their strength and the enduring bond of a family forever altered but not broken.
The rebuilt family cabin stands as a symbol of recovery. As Linae said, “Sometimes… I would just hear my dad say, ‘Linae…You’re gonna be safe.’” That enduring belief helped the Tiede sisters live to tell.
More “Live to Tell: Three Days Before Christmas”
- “Live to Tell: Three Days Before Christmas”: 48 Hours Revisits Tiede Cabin Homicides December 20 2025
- Who is Von Lester Taylor & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background
- Who is Edward Steven Deli & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background