The Grand County Public Library and La Sal artist Ekaterina Tatarovich invite the community to a reception marking the installation of a sculpture called “In Memory of Kylen and Crystal.” Tatarovich created and is donating the piece in honor of Moab couple Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte, who were murdered in the La Sal Mountains this summer. The forged steel piece is in the form of the women’s favorite flowers, a rose and a sunflower.
“Tatarovich’s beautiful work of art has just been installed in a sunny spot at Grand County Public Library’s Moab branch, recognized as an accessible and welcoming space for all,” says an announcement from the library.
Schulte and Turner were reported missing in mid-August of 2021, and they were found killed from gunshot wounds several days later at their campsite in the mountains. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office brought in help from state and federal agencies, and Schulte’s father, Sean-Paul Schulte, hired a private investigator to pursue the case. The crime is still unsolved. Meanwhile, community members have mourned the tragic loss of two beloved Moabites as well as, for many, a sense of safety in the mountains.
Tatarovich felt compelled to create a piece of art in response to the tragedy. She installed the finished sculpture as a permanent display in the library on Jan. 18—by coincidence, the date is exactly five months after Schulte and Turner were found at their campsite by a friend who had been searching for them, Moab local Cindy Sue Hunter.
Hunter will join Tatarovich at the library at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, to acknowledge the donation of the sculpture and to remember the two women, who were known for their kindness and loving spirits. Sean-Paul Schulte offered this mantra to accompany the announcement of the event:
BE CRYSTAL CLEAR
BE KYLEN KIND
The event will also be livestreamed: to watch, join the Facebook group “Transparency for Kylen and Crystal” and join the event. Masks are required inside the library building, and no food or drink will be served. Event hosts also ask that attendees avoid discussions of the ongoing criminal investigation, tips, theories, or opinions about law enforcement during the reception. Any information that could advance the investigation is welcomed by the Grand County Sheriff’s Department at 435-259-8115. Private Investigator Jason Jenson is working with family on the case and can be reached at 801-759-2248.
