Shivangi Sinha
In December 1990, sisters Linae and Tricia Tiede were staying with their family at a winter cabin in Oakley, Utah, when a violent attack shattered their lives. During the incident, their mother, Kaye Tiede, and their grandmother, Beth Potts, were both shot and killed. Their father, Rolf Tiede, was also shot in the face but survived the attack. Linae and Tricia were kidnapped by the two assailants, Von Lester Taylor and Edward Steven Deli, and forced to accompany them as they attempted to flee the scene. The escape was short-lived. Years later, Linae and Tricia publicly shared their story for the first time in CBS’ ‘48 Hours: Holiday Crimes,’ where they recounted the terrifying events of that night and described the lasting impact the tragedy had on their lives.
Linae and Tricia Tiede Were Abducted After Their Whole Family Was Shot
Rolf and Kaye Tiede lived in Humble, Texas, where they built a warm and loving home filled with laughter alongside their two daughters, Linae and Tricia. The family also owned a mountain cabin in Oakley, Utah, which they visited frequently for vacations. The cabin held some of the sisters’ happiest memories, particularly during the winter months when they enjoyed riding snowmobiles and spending quiet time together surrounded by nature. In December 1990, the family was once again staying at the cabin for a winter getaway. On December 22, 20-year-old Linae entered the house with her mother, Kaye, and her grandmother, Beth Potts.
As she stepped inside, she noticed a blurred figure moving through the cabin. At first, Linae assumed her cousins had arrived earlier than expected. Within moments, however, her confusion turned to fear when a man suddenly stood in front of her, holding a gun in his hand. Linae later recalled that her mother, Kaye, entered the room moments after she saw the intruder and immediately pleaded with the men to take whatever they wanted and leave the family unharmed. Almost instantly, gunfire erupted. Linae witnessed her mother and grandmother being shot repeatedly. One of the attackers then pressed a gun against Linae’s back and forced her outside.
It was at that moment that her 16-year-old sister, Tricia, arrived at the cabin with their father, Rolf. The gunman demanded money from Rolf, who removed cash from his wallet and threw it onto the ground. Despite complying, Rolf was shot as well. After the attack, the two men ordered Linae and Tricia to help them escape by taking them away from the cabin on snowmobiles. The two sisters were each forced to drive a snowmobile as the attackers fled the scene. While heading toward the vehicle, they passed their uncle, Randy Zorn, but did not acknowledge him.
Linae and Tricia Tiede Were Rescued Due to the Efforts of Their Injured Father
Later, Linae and Tricia Tiede explained that they feared drawing attention to him, believing he would also be in danger if the gunmen realized he was there. Even when he waved to them, they continued on without responding. During the ordeal, Linae and Tricia thought about trying to escape or deliberately crashing their snowmobiles into the trees, but they decided it was safest to comply and do exactly what they were told. Meanwhile, their father, Rolf Tiede, had miraculously survived his injuries. Despite being badly wounded, he managed to reach Randy and alert authorities. Police quickly responded, leading to the rescue of Linae and Tricia. The two attackers, Von Lester Taylor and Edward Steven Deli, were identified and taken into custody.
Linae and Tricia Tiede were profoundly affected by the attack and later said that the trauma left them living in constant fear and emotionally guarded for years. The experience deeply altered their sense of safety and trust. Both sisters became key witnesses in the trial of Edward Steven Deli in 1992, who maintained his innocence and refused to plead guilty. During the trial, Linae and Tricia endured intense cross-examination by the defense, which they described as deeply distressing. They later stated that they were even required to handle the murder weapon in court.
Despite the emotional toll, the sisters remained firm in their testimony, asserting that Deli was just as involved in the crime as Von Lester Taylor. Their statements played a crucial role in securing Deli’s conviction and a lengthy prison sentence. During this difficult period, their aunt, Claudia Tidwell Nelson, became a maternal figure to the girls, providing emotional support as they worked to rebuild their lives. Their father, Rolf Tiede, whom they always described as their hero for saving their lives, remained a pillar of strength until his death on November 19, 2008. Linae and Tricia later shared that his passing was peaceful and that they were by his side, finding comfort in being with him during his final moments.
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Linae and Tricia Tiede Are Raising Their Own Kids Today
Linae and Tricia Tiede have always preferred to lead private lives, choosing not to remain in the public spotlight after the incident that shaped their lives. The first time they spoke publicly about their experience was in 2011, when they participated in a CBS episode recounting the events. By 1992, Linae had begun rebuilding her life, relocating to Billings, Montana, after meeting her future husband, Nathan Coats. Nathan had five children from a previous relationship, and Linae embraced them wholeheartedly, raising them as her own. Together, the couple went on to have four additional children. Over time, Linae settled in Humble, Texas, where she focused on family life and healing.
In 2001, Linae received a letter from Edward Steven Deli, in which he apologized for his actions. She later shared that it took her nine years to find the emotional strength to respond. Linae explained that choosing to forgive him was not about excusing the crime, but about freeing herself from the emotional weight she had carried for so long. Forgiveness, she said, allowed her to move forward without being consumed by anger or pain.
Tricia, who is now known as Tricia Tiede Copenhaver, married Todd Copenhaver and became a mother to two daughters. She finished her schooling at Brigham Young University and gained experience working at Expeditors International GmbH. It seems like she is working as an Account Executive for VMware. Like her sister, she values privacy and family above all else. Despite building lives of their own, the sisters remain extremely close. They have reunited their families at the Utah cabin where the incident occurred and have reclaimed the space on their own terms after rebuilding it. They have an enduring bond between them and continue to support one another through it all.
