The suspect in a 1991 cold case slaying pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday, bringing to an end the mystery of what happened to Bryan Ruff, 22, a security guard at Kennecott, who disappeared from work and whose body was found in rural Utah County by campers.
Dale Bradley, 38, a former co-worker of Ruff's, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and kidnapping, both second-degree felonies, as part of a plea bargain. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 19 by 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan.
Bradley originally was charged in 2005 with first-degree felony murder, which carries a potential sentence of five years to life in prison. A second-degree felony carries a possible sentence of one to 15 years in prison. The amount of time someone spends behind bars is determined by the parole board.
Ruff, 22, disappeared from his security guard shack Dec. 10, 1991. His locked car was in the parking lot and a partially eaten meal remained on his desk. His body was found in 1993 in a shallow grave near Fairfield. The body was still clad in a now-tattered security guard uniform and had his wallet and jewelry on it. Ruff had been shot five times in the back.
Evidence presented in court suggested Ruff might have been having an affair with Bradley's first wife.
Bradley entered what is called an Alford plea in which he does not directly admit guilt but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to very likely get a conviction if the case went to trial. Bradley was to have gone on trial in February.
Salt Lake County Sheriff's Detective Todd Park is noted for solving the cold case after determining that a streak of red paint on the bottom of Ruff's boot matched the paint on Bradley's 1974 Ford Camaro.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com