The man who murdered a Salt Lake woman after a game of poker got out of hand has been sentenced to life in prison.
Third District Judge Anthony Quinn ordered Darren C. Bluemel, 39, to spend five years to life in the Utah State Prison for shooting Rachel Karren, 20, at his Herriman mobile home on March 23."The crime that you committed is as serious as any crime that can be committed," Quinn said. "Therefore I have no choice but to impose the maximum penalty."
Bluemel pleaded guilty at a June 2 preliminary hearing to murder, a first-degree felony. In exchange for Bluemel's plea, prosecutors dropped one count of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a second-degree felony.
"We're very satisfied with the sentence," prosecutor Jennifer Barton said.
Bluemel's attorney, Solomon Chacon, said Karren was playing strip poker at Bluemel's trailer, 4350 W. 12750 South, with Bluemel, Shawn Winward and Emily Winger, Bluemel's ex-girlfriend.
Through Winger, Karren met Bluemel hours before the shooting.
"My understanding is that he was making sexual advances toward the victim and she was not reciprocating that to the extent he wanted to," Barton said after Monday's sentencing.
Detective Cortney Nelson said Karren tried to leave, but Bluemel met her before she reached the door and shot her twice.
Chacon, however, said Bluemel was watching television as the other three were playing poker and became upset when he noticed Winger was completely nude.
"I'm suspecting that was what set him off," Chacon said. "There came a point in time where things just got out of hand. Then Darren left the room and came back with a gun and shot this girl."
According to charges, after killing Karren, Bluemel threatened Winger and Winward by saying, "I guess I'll have to kill you because I can't have any witnesses."
Nelson said Winward persuaded Bluemel to let him leave, and Bluemel held Winger hostage for an hour.
Chacon, however, said Bluemel did not hold Winger hostage but went with her to buy cigarettes at 7-Eleven and then returned with her to talk at his trailer.
Nelson said Winger took the trip to 7-Eleven to save her life.
"He told her she could leave, then he kicked the door shut and wouldn't let her leave," Nelson said. "Yeah, she took him to get some smokes -- because she's trying to save her life."
At Monday's sentencing Chacon told the court his client was remorseful.
"He is deeply sorry for the pain and suffering he caused for all who were affected," Chacon said. "He's accepted responsibility for his conduct."
Barton argued Bluemel had not shown true remorse because he did not help investigators locate the gun he used to shoot Karren.
As part of his plea, Bluemel agreed to cooperate with detectives to find the gun.
"He was not cooperative with the gun issue at all," Barton said. "They've done a very thorough search of the premises there. There were repeated offers by law enforcement to take Mr. Bluemel out there to help jog his memory, but he refused."
Chacon said a head injury Bluemel sustained during a fight in the early 1990s has affected Bluemel's memory and ability to focus.
"He simply cannot remember," Chacon said outside the courtroom. "It was a very traumatic experience, and he didn't plan it."
Barton didn't buy that argument.
She told the court 11 minutes passed between the time Winger left and police showed up.
"In that time he managed to do something with that gun," Barton said. "It is not credible that he does not know the whereabouts of the gun."
Family and friends of Karren were at Monday's sentencing but declined to address the court.