Sister Speaks Out After Woman Found Dead in Ex-Boyfriend’s Car on New Year’s Eve
The sister of Summer Tatiana Roney, 30, who was tragically found dead in the backseat of her ex-boyfriend’s car on New Year’s Eve, has spoken out for the first time, sharing her grief and honoring her sister’s life.
Michelle Tischner, Roney’s sister, opened up about the last moments she spent with Summer, describing their deep bond and the emotional impact of her loss. “Christmas was the last time I saw her,” Tischner said, sitting by the Christmas tree her sister had admired just days before her death. “We were extremely close. It’s going to be hard for me to take down my Christmas tree.”
On Dec. 30, Roney failed to show up for her 2 p.m. work shift. Tischner believes that Roney met with her ex-boyfriend, Jacob Johnson, 40, to end their tumultuous relationship of over three years. “It was always very up and down,” Tischner explained. She added that their relationship had seen violence before, including a 2021 incident that led her to contact the police on Roney’s behalf.
Herriman police suspect Johnson is responsible for Roney’s death and believe he killed her at his home on Stone Hayes Court. The family believes Johnson then drove her body to a Bluffdale gas station hours later. Surveillance footage captured Johnson’s vehicle arriving at the station just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, where a police officer discovered Roney’s body during a DUI investigation.
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“I know she had probably been gone for at least 10 hours,” Tischner said. “I’m so glad they found her because we could still be searching for her right now. My biggest fear was he was going to dispose of her.”
Roney’s death was ruled a homicide from blunt force trauma, and Tischner is struggling to cope with the violent nature of her sister’s passing. “Nobody should be taken this violently,” she said, fighting back tears.
In the midst of her grief, Tischner has a message for those experiencing abuse: “If I had a message for anybody going through this, please don’t go alone when you’re breaking up with someone.” She urges others to seek support and safety when leaving an abusive relationship.
While they mourn Roney’s death, her family is focused on keeping her legacy alive. “Summer was a beautiful, kind-hearted soul,” Tischner said. “I want everyone to know who she was, and I will be there at every court hearing. I will get justice for Summer.”
Roney’s funeral will take place Thursday, where friends, family, and coworkers will gather to remember her. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the case for formal charges this week. The family is hopeful that justice will be served while continuing to honor the life Roney led — a life filled with kindness, love, and selflessness.
Born in Russia and adopted by her family in the United States, Roney was known for her resilience and compassion. “Seeing all the news articles about somebody found in the back of a car, she’s more than that. She’s my sister and an amazing human being,” Tischner said.
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