WEST VALLEY CITY — A gang-related drug debt may have been the motive behind a homicide here last week in which the victim was bound, gagged and left in a shed.
Newly released documents from the Salt Lake County Jail say Jay Wolfinjer, 32, was tortured before dying, including having a knife stuck into his knee.
Wolfinjer was beaten in his West Jordan apartment Oct. 9, wrapped in a sheet and kidnapped, according to documents and police. He was taken to a shed in West Valley City where he was bound, gagged and the beating continued.
"He was tortured by having a knife (stuck) into his knee, he was hit in the head with a blunt object causing a depressed skull fracture ... " according to jail documents.
After being found, Wolfinjer was taken to local hospital where he later died from the blunt force trauma injury.
Three people were arrested that day and night. A fourth person, Makasini Lomu, was arrested Tuesday.
Lomu, who is married to another person who was arrested, 44-year-old Pailate Lomu, was at the shed where Wolfinjer was found, according to jail documents. She knew the names of all the others involved, jail documents state.
"The assault was planned and was a result of a drug transaction between members of the Baby Regulators Gang and (Wolfinjer)," according to jail documents. "Makasina Lomu had knowledge and participated in a collection of a drug debt when (Wolfinjer) was assaulted, abducted, tortured and murdered. She then hid from law enforcement and attempted to obstruct the investigation."
Wednesday, police were looking for one remaining person of interest in the case, Fonua Kimoana, 29. Anyone with information can call police at 840-4000.
Wolfinjer was incarcerated recently with the New Mexico Department of Corrections, according to police. A check of New Mexico state court records showed Wolfinjer had a number of convictions, including drug possession, criminal sexual contact and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He had also previously lived in California. West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan did not know Wednesday how long Wolfinjer had been a resident of Utah.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com