As Christopher Neal Jeppson sat in jail on a charge of first-degree murder, investigators and prosecutors announced a renewed push to find Kiplyn Davis's body and bring to justice those responsible for her death.

At a press conference on Friday, representatives from the Utah County Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, Spanish Fork Police Department and FBI announced their intention to convict Jeppson and co-defendant Timmy Brent Olsen of murder. Jeppson was arrested Thursday evening by FBI agents and Spanish Fork police, and is being held at the Utah County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bail.

"For many years Christopher has been a suspect in the 1995 murder of Kiplyn Davis. After careful review of all of the evidence, including evidence that was admitted in the United States Attorney's Office's recent trial of Mr. Jeppson, we feel there is sufficient proof for a jury to find that both Timmy Olsen and Christopher Jeppson are guilty of murdering Kiplyn Davis."

Davis disappeared from Spanish Fork High School on May 2, 1995. Her body has not been found.

In 2003, Richard Davis, Kiplyn's father, went to then U.S. Attorney Paul Warner, asking for help from the federal government. Since then, the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office have worked on the case with the Spanish Fork police and Utah County prosecutors. The collaborative effort so far has resulted in perjury convictions and now state murder charges against Olsen and Jeppson. David Rucker Leifson will stand trial on federal perjury charges in November.

"We'll continue until all those that were involved are brought to justice. They can count on that," said U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman.

Since that cooperation began, new evidence comes in all the time. Spanish Fork Police Chief Dee Rosenbaum said at the press conference that his department has received new evidence as recently as this week.

Much of the press conference was dedicated to the renewed effort to find Davis's body, and officials are asking for the public's help. Utah County attorney Jeff Buhman said law enforcement is putting up about 250 fliers around Utah County bearing Davis's face and the known details of her disappearance. That effort will focus in the county's canyons, sporting goods stores and other places where they are likely to be seen by hunters, hikers, campers and other fans of outdoor recreation.

The hope is that they may be able to help find Davis's body, which investigators believe may have been moved during the past 12 years.

"We invite all of you, everyone in this county and in the state, to become part of Team Kiplyn. When you're out in those hills, when you're hunting or when you're camping or when you have nothing to do, go out there and wander around and help us," said Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson, a longtime friend of the Davis family.

Following Olsen's conviction on federal perjury charges in 2006 and Jeppson's conviction last month, Richard Davis asked them to come forward and tell police what they know about his daughter's whereabouts. At Friday's press conference, he issued that plea again.

"We're not out here for vengeance. We just want justice and we want to bring Kiplyn home. I want to help the people that know where Kiplyn is, to let them know that I'll help them any way if they'll just tell us where she is," he said. "They need to understand that they need to close the wounds that me and my family are suffering right now, and also close the wounds that their families are suffering through too."

Even though it has been 12 years since she disappeared, Buhman said they still believe Davis's body can be found. However, the murder cases against Jeppson and Olsen do not hinge on whether that happens, he said.

Jeppson's first court appearance on the murder charge is scheduled for Wednesday in Provo's 4th District Court. The first appearance for Olsen, who was charged with murder in January 2006, is scheduled for Dec. 10, though Buhman said prosecutors hope to get that date moved up. Olsen's state murder case was delayed for much of the past two years because of laws regulating the transport of federal prisoners to other jurisdictions. Olsen was sentenced to 12-1/2 years in federal prison after being found guilty of 15 counts of perjury.

Buhman said cooperation with Tolman's office is helping to expedite Olsen's move to Utah County, and he does not expect any such delays in Jeppson's case. Jeppson's federal sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 28.

Buhman said the two suspects, whom the state intends to try together, could face a preliminary hearing before the end of the year.

Jeppson was convicted last month on one count of perjury and three counts of making false statements in federal court. Those charges stemmed from allegations that Jeppson lied to investigators and a federal grand jury about his whereabouts the day of Davis's disappearance, and comments he made to his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend about being involved.

During Olsen's federal perjury trial, a witness testified that Olsen had bragged that he and Leifson killed Davis and disposed of her body. Another witness said he heard Olsen say that they stuffed the body into a tool box.

Buhman and Tolman would not comment on the possibility of state murder charges against Leifson. But they maintained a confident tone throughout the press conference as they spoke of their intent to prosecute everyone who may have been involved in Davis's disappearance or lied in front of a grand jury that was investigating the case.

Tolman also indicated his willingness to hear Leifson's attorneys out if they want to discuss a plea deal.

"If they want to come forward and be more cooperative than they have been, I will listen," he said. Leifson's federal perjury trial will begin on Nov. 5. Two other men charged with perjury in connection with Davis's disappearance, Garry Blackmore and Scott Brunson, entered guilty pleas to lesser charges.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the Spanish Fork Police Department at 798-5070 or the FBI at (801) 374-5332.

Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.