If Nathan and Stephanie Sloop are convicted and get the death penalty, it may well be because of a Utah law passed just a few years ago.
That law is called Shelby's Law.
In many ways, this horrible week feels like 2006 all over again.
In August of that year, 10 year old Shelby Andrews was killed by her father and step-mother.
But her death gave life to the law that bears her name.
Shelby was beaten, tortured and sexually abused.
Bruises covered 80 percent of her body.
Even hardened lawmen were left shaken.
Shelby's father and step-mother both got 15 to life.
But they didn't get death sentences because of the way Utah’s law was written.
Representative Paul Ray was so outraged by Shelby Andrews' death, he got a bill passed the very next year.
Shelby's law now makes it easier for Utah child killers to get the death penalty.
Friday, Representative Ray told ABC 4,
"I don't want taxpayers paying $32,000 dollars a year to house this guy for the rest of his life and so it's come down simply to he's better off being removed from the gene pool."
Ray is saddened and stunned Shelby's law now has to be used just 3 years later.
While it does help punish killers, he knows it can't bring back their victims.
As Shelby's mom said a few painful years ago,
"I was waiting for the day I could help her pick out her wedding dress and be there when her first baby was born. I am never going to see that now."
Ray says he is now thinking about another bill for next year's legislature.
