CEDAR CITY — A man accused of brutally beating his Cedar City roommate to death has been found to be mentally competent.
Brandon Thomas Sappington, 32, was found competent this week to stand trial in the 2013 death of Bryan Mahue Mellor, 59. Sappington was a transient, but had been living with Mellor in his Cedar City apartment against the wishes of the area housing authority at the time of Mellor's death, according to court records.
Police responding to the apartment found a badly beaten Mellor outside the home, 470 S. 75 West, and Sappington positioned nearby with blood on his hands and clothes, according to court documents.
Witnesses told police Sappington had repeatedly kicked Mellor's head into a steel railing outside the apartment and jumped and stomped on his head and torso, charging documents state.
Mellor was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where doctors determined he had suffered multiple skull fractures. His injuries were "too extensive to attempt surgical intervention," doctors determined, according to court records. Mellor died from his injuries at the hospital.
Following evaluation and treatment at the Utah State Hospital, Sappington was found competent this week to stand trial.
According to a competency review filed in 5th District Court, Sappington — originally from Palm Springs, California — had lived in several states and worked as manager for a musician and an auto salesman, including in St. George, before eventually returning to Utah.
Sappington reported to Utah State Hospital officials that about three years ago he became significantly depressed and lost a desire to work or participate in other activities, his apathy causing him to "lose touch with reality" and believe he was dying, the report states.
In the months prior to the alleged attack, Sappington was unemployed and "stressed" about not having a job or money, according to the report. He was "not in his right mind" and was concerned about students moving into Mellor's apartment building, which is located near Southern Utah University, the evaluator wrote.
Sappington told evaluators "it was all happening so fast" and that he was struggling to understand who and what in his life was real. He wondered if he was "sleepwalking or something, it was almost a dream," according to the report.
As he was being taken into custody following the incident, Sappington allegedly tried to kick and head-butt police. He told one officer, "I'm going to kill you," then subsequently said to the officer, "Just kill me, bro," according to charging documents.
Sappington was originally charged in 5th District Court with aggravated assault. The charge was upgraded to murder, a first-degree felony, on March 20. Sappington also two faces charges of assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony, and interference with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14.
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