A year ago, Salt Lake police were cringing at the number 25. That was how many people were murdered during 1990 - the city's all-time high.
1991, though still violent, was a bit kinder for Salt Lake City. The 14 homicides during that year were one fewer than what the city has averaged since 1980.But while the murder rate was down in the city, some jurisdictions weren't so lucky.
In 1990, the Salt Lake County sheriff's office investigated six homicides in the unincorporated county. Last year, that number doubled to 12.
West Jordan had six homicides during 1991. "We usually average maybe one or two. It's probably a high for us," Police Chief Ken McGuire said.
But while police detectives throughout Salt Lake County investigated 41 homicides, Davis, Summit and Tooele counties all managed to escape the murder stats. And only two homicides occurred in Utah County during 1991 - and one of those is officially listed as a "possible homicide."
Whether the statistics are up or down, most police officials agree that the homicide numbers don't tell the complete story.
"Even though we don't have as many homicides . . . we're going to have a big year for aggravated assaults," said Dave Doepner, crime analyst for the Salt Lake Police Department. "We're turning more and more violent as time goes on."
Capt. Bill Van Wagenen, who heads the sheriff's homicide division, agrees.
"I definitely see a trend toward more violent crimes - brutal homicides where people are shot multiple times, stabbed multiple times and brutally beaten," he said.
"I think it's becoming more commonplace. There's a lessening in the value of life."
Here's a list of the homicides that occurred along the Wasatch Front during 1990, according to police
- Jan. 23 - Tod J. Menuey, 26, shot in the back of the head while working at Circle K, 1692 W. North Temple. Customers found Menuey unconscious in the restroom. Ernest Gabriel Hernandez, 27, a Colorado prison escapee, charged with capital homicide and aggravated robbery. Trial scheduled for March 9.
- Feb. 10 - Paul Eugene Watts, 2, 270 E. Wilson Ave., died from multiple head injuries. Mother Jennifer Watts, 20, left baby with live-in boyfriend Michael D. Lane, 28, while she went to church. Hours later, she discovered her child was dead. A jury acquitted Lane of second-degree murder in May.
- April 13 - Beatrice Lyday, 39, 519 N. 1400 West, shot in abdomen and in the head by her estranged husband, Jared Lee Lyday, 57. Police said Jared Lyday began attacking his wife and their 15-year-old daughter with a hammer. He then shot his wife as she ran out of the house. He later killed himself at a nearby park as officers approached him. Incidentally, his father shot and killed his wife in 1973, then shot himself.
- May 13 - Roy David Dunsmore, 17, of Bluebell, Duchesne County, was shot several times with a .22 pistol in a field off the west frontage road of I-15. John D. Connor, 15, was certified as an adult and pleaded guilty to murder in November. He will be sentenced Jan. 17. Former foster mother Julie Adair Gaeta, 30, faces trial in January on related charges.
- May 18 - Youthaloth Oudanunh, 25, stabbed outside a dance at 120 W. 1300 South. Victim was stabbed in the back, shoulder and neck. Victim apparently got into an argument with others at the dance. Three men seen leaving the area in a car containing a bloody knife. They were booked into jail but later released because of lack of evidence. Police believe several people witnessed the stabbing, but no one would come forward. The case remains open.
- June 2 - Joseph Clayton Beaver, 17, 402 N. Center, stabbed in the heart May 25 while on the sidewalk at 341 W. 400 North during an argument with a 15-year-old boy. The suspect threw a knife from five feet away and hit him in the chest. The two had a long-running dispute. Beaver died a week later. The suspect, now 16, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to serve time at Decker Lake Youth Facility.
- June 29 - Daniel Cardenas, 19, 312 American Ave., was found slumped over a table in Annex Bar, 666 S. State, after patrons heard several gunshots. Gabriel Soto, 21, Salt Lake City, was charged with the murder, but charges were later dropped after three key witnesses refused to return from Mexico to testify because of fear of retaliation. Others in the bar at time of shooting claim to have seen nothing. The case is closed.
- July 26 - John Spina, 26, was shot after he pushed another man onto a barbecue grill outside an apartment complex at 254 S. 300 East. Witnesses said Lionel A. Michaud, building manager, came outside, ordered Spina to leave and fired a warning shot into ground and another at Spina. Michaud charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty and appears in district court later this month.
- Sept. 11 - Kerry Gilbert Arbon, 40, 676 N. 800 East, Orem. His body was found on the west side of City Creek Canyon near 1000 North. He had been dead up to 24 hours when found that afternoon and died from multiple large-caliber gunshot wounds. Victim had traveled to Salt Lake City to attend the state fair on Sept. 8. Police have no suspects and no leads.
- Sept. 22 - Sandra Dalley, 36, 681 E. 11th Ave., went to her mother's house on Sept. 18 after her husband beat her about the head. Mother couldn't wake her up the next afternoon and she was flown to the hospital. She died Sept. 22. Husband Randall F. Dalley, 32, booked into jail on murder charges. Preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month.
- Oct. 15 - Adam Garcia, 38, lived at various hotels and with friends in Salt Lake City for several years. His body was found about 5:30 a.m. at 1165 Richards St. lying on the sidewalk. He was stabbed several times. Garcia had been arrested several times for drugs. "We just recently got some leads we're still following up on," said Salt Lake Police Lt. Jim Bell.
- Oct. 18 - On Oct. 12, Armando Mendrano, 21, 1557 W. 200 East, was shot in the mouth with a .25 caliber handgun during an argument at La Frontera restaurant, 1434 S. 700 West. The suspect ran after firing three times and the victim chased after him. Mendrano walked into a hospital for treatment but was removed from life support on Oct. 18. Sabino Plancarte, 22, charged with murder but is believed to have fled to Mexico.
- Nov. 7 - Mario R. Lopez, 34, was shot in the heart with a handgun after a fight broke out in the Raging Bull Bar, 910 S. State. Lopez and two other men got into a fight while playing pool. The two men left and came back with the handgun. Carlos Radoford Garcia, 35, 385 E. Herbert Ave., and Jose Diaz, 32, 1144 S. Folger St., both charged with murder. Preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this week.
- Nov. 8 - Gerald Elmer Thomas, 56, was bludgeoned to death with a claw hammer and wrapped in a bloody blanket in his bed at 435 E. South Temple #28. He had been dead for more than a day when he was discovered. Jerry Lee Robertson, 26, and Cassie Robertson, 20, both charged with murder and theft from a person. After an argument over a game of Monopoly, they said they waited until he was asleep, beat him on the head with a hammer and took his money, court documents state.
Until mid-November, Salt Lake City had 17 homicide victims on its murder list. But the police department - and later the fire department - reclassified three deaths that had been called a triple homicide and trimmed the list to 14. Now, those deaths are classified as "suspicious in nature."
Three children were killed in a house fire at a Rose Park home, 1045 N. Oakley, on June 13. Andrew Lawrence, 9, Creighton Lawrence, 11, and Christian Ortega, 13, all died in the early morning blaze. Fire and police investigators found "accelerant pour patterns" in the home, at two points on the outside of the home, on the garage and inside the car parked in the driveway.
Sam Ortega was suspected of starting the blaze and was questioned by police on different occasions. He has steadfastly denied the accusations, however. Investigators reclassified the deaths after finding only evidence the fire was not accidental, but not evidence to justify homicide charges.
Salt Lake County:
All but three of the Salt Lake County sheriff's 12 homicide and killing cases are solved, and detectives say they have viable suspects in the unsolved cases.
- Jan. 29 - Jay Thompson, 11 months, son of George and Kay Thompson, 3235 W. 3650 South, died after he was apparently abused and shaken to death. Babysitter Jill Dawn Carpenter, 27, 4453 W. 5460 South, charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded guilty to reduced charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to one year in jail.
- Feb. 2 - Lucile Johnson, 78, found in her home, 4284 S. Holloway Drive (1960 East), where she lived alone. Beaten severely about the head and stabbed. No clear motive, possibly robbery, but the only thing found missing was a ring. Detectives have a suspect and the case remains open.
- Feb. 22 - Brett Snarr, 20, of 209 Gordon Lane #31, shot once in the head at 6636 S. Royal Harvest Way (2055 East). Snarr was apparently beating his girlfriend, and Shane L. Perkins, 23, intervened. Snarr refused to leave Perkins' apartment, threatened others and Perkins shot him. No charges filed. Prosecutors ruled shooting was justified.
- April 15 - Todd Karren, 14, 875 E. Gladiator Way, shot once in the upper left chest by a 14-year-old boy. They and five other Union Middle School students were skipping school and playing with a gun stolen during a vehicle burglary. The gun discharged during an argument. Suspect was charged with manslaughter.
- July 6 - Ricardo Justin Weiner, 25, 1820 S. Main, shot once above the right ear in Little Willow Canyon. Bruce Radford Purdy, 26, charged with manslaughter. Weiner was distraught over pending rape case and apparently asked Purdy to kill him. Prosecutors asked to divert prosecution for one year. The charge may be dismissed if Purdy continues to see a psychologist and commits no crimes.
- July 8 - Christopher Johnson, 7, and brother and sister, all asphyxiated by their mother Elpitha S. Johnson, 41, 1447 River Oaks Circle, in the family's pickup truck while her husband was away. Blankets were stuffed in the garage door cracks. The children's grandmother found the victims that morning.
- July 8 - Stephanie Johnson, 5, see above.
- July 8 - Andrew Johnson, 2, see above.
- Aug. 5 - Barbara Boggs Richardson, 45, a transient, was stabbed and beaten to death at a hobo camp near 420 W. 3300 South. Her "camp husband" Randall Lee Jones, 41, was killed in a similar manner May 11 in Helper. Jeremy Abshire, 29, charged with murder. He was profiled on America's Most Wanted on Nov. 8, and was arrested the next day in Galveston, Texas. He is currently fighting extradition to Utah.
- Aug. 25 - Amanda Borden, 7 weeks, 7874 S. Glenwood Ave., died from blunt force injuries to the head and shaking. The child's father, Robert Edward Borden, 36, was charged with murder. He admitted angrily squeezing her and throwing her down. He then picked her up by her ankles, carried her upside down into the bathroom where he allowed her head to bang on the tub as he washed her bottom, court documents state. Baby had numerous broken bones in various stages of healing. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced Feb. 10.
- Sept. 29 - Stephanie A. Henry, 23, 4545 S. Atherton Drive (800 West) #99, was stabbed numerous times and her throat was slashed. Her nude body was found just after noon Oct. 1. Henry's 20-month-old baby, Heather, was found in another room, dehydrated and hungry but OK. The baby had had no food or water in about 36 hours. Detectives have a suspect and are waiting for lab results.
- Oct 18 - George Ira Spor, 53, 7153 S. 1155 West, West Jordan, found by hunters in Butterfield Canyon. He was shot twice, in upper right back and on the left side. He had left earlier in the week to hitchhike to Las Vegas to try and find work. The investigation is continuing but has not been narrowed to a single suspect.
West Valley City
All six of West Valley's homicides are considered solved. Detective Ron Edwards said he believes a seventh homicide occurred during 1991, but he cannot yet prove it.
He believes a 19-year-old woman killed her 9-month-old child on Sept. 22. Paramedics were called to the home after the child stopped breathing. They revived the child, but she died later at the hospital. An autopsy was inconclusive, but the child had apparently been to seven different doctors and was hospitalized four different times with various ailments.
"There's no doubt in my mind that she killed him," said the detective, who is still investigating the case.
- April 16 - Rick Lockyer, 37, 3381 S. Brock St., was shot once in the chest by West Valley police officer James Crowley. Lockyer allegedly charged Crowley, his partner and another officer with an ax. Police told him to put the ax down several times and then fired one shot. Shooting ruled justifiable.
- May 30 - Mark Joseph Pyle, 32, 4507 S. 3600 West, was shot four times in the legs and chest by SWAT officers during a drug bust that netted only small amounts of contraband. Shooting was ruled justifiable.
- July 1 - Jayleen Wilson Kilgrow, 31, 3131 S. 3200 West, was strangled in her home. Her live-in boyfriend found her dead on the living room floor when he came home from work. Ex-husband Ronald Leon Kilgrow, 32, charged with second-degree murder. He was ruled incompetent to stand trial and is at the Utah State Hospital.
- Aug. 29 - Jade Montano, 22 months, died from injury caused by severe shaking. She was admitted to Primary Children's Medical Center Aug. 24 and died five days later. Father Dwayne A. Montano, 24, 104 Maple, Midvale, charged with murder after admitting he shook her for two to three minutes, court documents state. Trial scheduled for February.
- Nov. 2 - Susan Sessions, 31, was shot twice while staying with her sister in a West Valley trailer court. Edgar Tiedemann, 45, was charged with two counts of capital murder, attempted aggravated murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping. He is accused of shooting Sessions after she refused to sleep with him. Her 14-year-old son, Scott Bunnel, was sleeping on the floor next to her and was also shot. He was paralyzed for several hours before police came and gave medical attention.
- Nov. 2 - Charles Timberman, 43, Oregon, was also killed in the same shooting spree. He was in another room in the trailer with Sessions' sister when he heard the shots and Tiedemann allegedly shot him. Tiedemann is also accused of raping Timberman's 36-year-old, seven-month pregnant girlfriend and holding her hostage for several hours before she finally escaped. Tiedemann undergoing psychological evaluations and appears in court again later this month.
Murray
- May 23 - Adam Cook, 11, was killed by a bomb that exploded in his father's truck that was parked at 5740 S. 665 West on May 15. Steven Thurman, 3843 W. Rockwood Way, was charged with capital murder. Prosecutors believe the bomb was intended for the boy's father, who had been involved in a relationship with Thurman's ex-wife. The bomb was apparently detonated by remote control. Trial has been postponed pending an interlocutory appeal to the Supreme Court.
- Aug. 4 - Shawn Burns, 6 months, died from chronic malnutrition as a result of parental neglect. He was temporarily staying at Murray residence, 5322 S. 590 East #H. Paramedics were called there after he stopped breathing. He died at a hospital. Parents Richard and Beckie Burns, 5560 S. Northwest Ave. #A, each charged with murder. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.
West Jordan
- May 10 - Yolanda Lee Anderson, 31, Salt Lake City, was found dead at an industrial park, 9513 S. Bagley Park. She was clad only in a brown sweater and is believed to have been strangled. She had been arrested on prostitution charges several times. Police have a suspect but are not close to an arrest.
- June 6 - Claudia Martinez, 21, was shot once in the head at her home, 8503 S. 3650 West. Her common-law husband, Tomas Rezendiz Herrera, 31, was charged with murder for allegedly shooting her, then firing at her brother and his mother. Scheduled for trial later this month.
- Nov. 17 - Margaret Ann Jenkins Kastanis, 39, and her three children found dead in their home at 3524 W. 6825 South. Each victim was stabbed several times with a knife. Sam George Kastanis, 43, was booked into jail and later released. He called an emergency dispatcher about 10:45 a.m. and later said he discovered the slayings after spending much of the morning in his garage.
- Nov. 17 - Melissa Kastanis, 11. Discovered in a basement bedroom. See above.
- Nov. 17 - Clinton Kastanis, 9. Discovered in an upstairs bathroom. See above.
- Nov. 17 - Christine Kastanis, 6. Discovered in a basement bedroom. See above.
McGuire said his department is still several weeks away from making an arrest in the slayings. Dozens of pieces of evidence have been sent to crime labs, and detectives are waiting for the test results.
Sandy
- Sept. 20 - Karla Roth, 37, 2652 W. Terah Maria Drive, was shot once during a siege at Alta View Hospital, where she was a nurse. Richard L. Worthington, 39, 3069 E. 9600 South, Sandy, charged with aggravated murder, nine counts aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated murder and possession of an infernal device after holding eight people hostage for 18 hours. Worthington was looking for Dr. Glade Curtis, who performed a tubal ligation on his wife in 1989. Scheduled for trial in March.
Utah County
Utah County's low crime rate was one reason Money Magazine named Provo/Orem as the nation's best place to live. The county lived up to its reputation during 1991 with only one homicide, and a possible second homicide which is included below.
- Jan. 16 - Joy Kay, 57, Orem, died from severe bruises and a head injury she suffered in a beating. Vern Nicholes, 53, American Fork, was charged with manslaughter. He pleaded no contest to the charge in August.
- Dec. 17 - Shelly Ann Jiron, 22, Provo, was found dead inside a wrecked car west of Utah Lake. The car traveled several hundred yards through a pasture before hitting a culvert. Police believe Jiron died before the crash and are investigating the case as a possible homicide. No charges have been filed, however.
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(Chart)
1991 Homicides
Location Homicides
Salt Lake City 14
Salt Lake County
(unincorporated) 12
West Valley 6
Murray 2
West Jordan 6
Sandy 1
Tooele County 0
Davis County 0
Utah County 2