Note: This story, originally reported in December 2023, is being republished.
Heartbreaking End to Amber Alert: Missing 10-Month-Old Zeke Best Found Deceased After 36-Hour Search
What began as a desperate search for a missing infant has ended in tragedy. Ten-month-old Zeke Best, the Idaho baby at the center of a statewide Amber Alert, was found dead over the weekend—just 36 hours after the alert was issued.
Authorities say the baby’s father, Jeremy Albert Best, was apprehended shortly before the devastating discovery. He was already wanted in connection with the murder of his wife, adding another chilling layer to this deeply disturbing case.
The breakthrough came when a concerned hunter called police to report an unsettling scene along a remote stretch of road, about 24 miles east of Idaho Falls. The hunter described a man—later identified as Jeremy Best—lying naked inside a sleeping bag, muttering incoherently by the roadside.
“The caller stated the man was naked and making odd statements,” police confirmed in an official release.
Shortly after taking Best into custody, officers located the body of little Zeke, confirming the worst fears of the community and bringing the search to a tragic close.
Tragedy in Idaho: Baby Zeke Best Found Dead, Father in Custody Following Amber Alert and Ongoing Homicide Investigation
What began as an urgent Amber Alert ended in heartbreaking tragedy as 10-month-old Zeke Best was found dead near his father’s crashed vehicle in rural Idaho—just 36 hours after he was reported missing.
An arrest warrant for Zeke’s father, 48-year-old Jeremy Albert Best, had been issued on Friday, accusing him of abducting his son from Teton County. That same warrant connected Best to a far more chilling crime: the suspected murder of his wife, Kali Jean Randall.
According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, a tip from a hunter ultimately led officers to a disturbing scene—Best, found naked and wrapped in a sleeping bag on the side of a road about 24 miles east of Idaho Falls, was reportedly making incoherent statements. Not far from where he was discovered, law enforcement located his vehicle, stuck in an embankment.
Inside, the lifeless body of baby Zeke was found.
Multiple agencies, including the Idaho State Police and the FBI, are now involved in the investigation. Best is also a person of interest in the ongoing homicide case of his wife. Her body was found the day before Zeke went missing, inside her Victor home. The Teton County Sheriff’s Office has since classified her death as a homicide.
Detectives from Bonneville County, along with state and federal agents, are actively processing the scenes tied to the case, which has shaken the small communities of eastern Idaho.
Jeremy Best is currently being held in the Bonneville County Jail as he awaits arraignment. As of Saturday evening, there was no confirmation regarding the assignment of a defense attorney.
In a statement filled with sorrow, law enforcement extended their condolences:
“Our thoughts are with the family of the victims involved in this case.”
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with a story that has gone from desperate hope to devastating loss—underscoring the importance of justice and healing in the face of unimaginable grief.