BYU Student Accused Of Cooking Drugs Claims He Was Making Soap

PROVO, Utah (CBS Las Vegas) – An attorney for a BYU student accused of cooking drugs says his client was making soap.

Investigators started looking for 21-year-old Bryce Cazier when his roommates got suspicious over his cooking setup.

Jere Reneer, Cazier’s attorney, says his client just cooks soap.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Renner told KSTU-TV.  “He makes organic soaps.  He does herbal extracts.  He’s kind of into the organic chemistry thing.  It would be the Mormon equivalent of brewing your own beer.”

There are many tutorials available online that demonstrate how to cook your own soap.  Reneer believes it is very similar to what one would need to make drugs.

“It’s unlikely that the investigators even knew what they were picking up,” Renner told the station.  “Obviously, it’s clear what they think they saw.”

The items police took from Cazier’s apartment are still being tested.

“It appears it may be a meth lab, according to the investigators who were out there.  That’s what we’re looking into, at this point,” Det. Chris Chambers told KSTU.

Investigators originally had trouble finding Cazier but Reneer said his client went on a weekend trip to Salt Lake City before he even knew the police were looking for him.

“This is a returned missionary with no legal history other than a speeding ticket,” Reener added.  “It’s not some meth lab dealer guy that we are dealing with.”