Utah

Utah domestic violence killings are spiking in 2023

Published

11 months ago

July 25, 2023

Utah domestic violence killings are spiking in 2023

Estimated read time: 7-8
minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — A California man who drove to Utah to shoot and kill his brother. A Layton man accused of killing his wife and her parents. An Enoch man who shot and killed his wife, children and mother-in-law to death. A Salt Lake man who killed his teenage son before taking his own life.

During the first six months of 2023, Utah has investigated more domestic violence-related deaths than it did the previous five years during the same period.

According to statistics compiled by KSL.com, 22 people were killed in Utah from Jan. 1 through June 30 in domestic violence incidents. All but two of those deaths were from guns. In 18 of those 22 killings a direct family member is accused, while the others were allegedly committed by a boyfriend.

In comparison, there were 14 people who were killed in domestic violence incidents during the first six months of 2022; six in 2021; 14 in 2020; 11 in 2019; and nine in 2019, according to the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. Utah counts domestic violence-related “murder, non-negligent manslaughter and negligent manslaughter” in compiling its statistics.

The 22 domestic violence deaths during the first six months are more than all of 2021 domestic violence deaths, according to state’s statistics, and just two shy of all of 2022.

Elizabeth Sollis, a domestic violence victim advocate and former longtime spokeswoman for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, says the primary reasons for domestic violence are power and control. And the abuse doesn’t always start with physical assaults.

“The majority of physically abusive relationships start with emotional abuse. A lot of people want to discount the unhealthy, abusive behaviors they see or experience because they may not rise to the level of physical violence,” she said. “I truly believe the denial of progressive emotional and verbal abuse, which frequently escalates to physical violence, is part of why we’re seeing more severe and fatal cases of domestic violence.”

Sollis says she will often hear excuses such as, “But they’ve never been physically abusive.” She says the community cannot dismiss controlling and manipulative actions or comments made by a perpetrator, or pass off other abusive behaviors as proof of a “loving” relationship.

The year got off to a tragic start when eight members of an Enoch family were found dead in their home in January:

Tausha Haight, 40; Haight’s mother, Gail Earl, 78; and Haight’s children — three daughters ages 17, 12, and 7, and two sons, ages 7 and 4 — were shot to death by the children’s father and Haight’s husband, Michael Orwin Haight, 42, who then took his own life.
In March, Timothy Parker, 58, and his wife, Jeannie Parker, 50, were found deceased in their Spanish Fork home after officers were called to conduct a welfare check. Both were shot to death. Their son, Tryston Robert Erickson, 26, was arrested in Colorado following a chase with police.
In April, Scott Roberts was shot and killed at his North Ogden home by his brother, Jeffrey Roberts, of Long Beach, California, who police say drove to Utah and shot his brother shortly after Scott answered the door. Jeffrey Roberts then set fire to the home and was killed in a shootout with responding officers. Scott Roberts’ wife, Jodi Roberts, survived.
In May, 16-year-old Om Moses Gandhi was shot and killed by his father, Parth Gandhi, 49, at his neuropsychology clinic at 2936 S. Highland Drive. Parth Gandhi and his wife divorced in 2009 and had been involved in a bitter child custody battle ever since.
Six days later in Layton, Anastasia Stevens, 36, and her father and stepmother — Becky Stevens, 61, and Donald Stevens, 73 — were found shot to death inside Anastasia Stevens’ home. Jeremy Bailey, 34, her husband, was charged with three counts of aggravated murder, a capital offense, and could potentially face the death penalty if convicted.
On June 29, police say Dallas Wade Martineau, 40, was “lying in wait” in his brother-in-law’s West Haven backyard and when Russell Allen Evans, 50, came outside on the back porch, he was shot multiple times.

The total number of domestic violence-related killings could have been even higher if not for the medical attention given by doctors and first responders in several other Utah incidents, as well as just good luck for the victims. For example:

Sonia Salari says research has found that women are more likely to be murdered in the United States by a current or former intimate partner, while men are more likely to be killed by an acquaintance or complete stranger. The types of men who kill their significant others can typically be broken down into two categories — “homicidal-intent” and “suicidal-intent.”

Salari is a professor at the University of Utah in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies. She has a doctorate of philosophy in sociology with an expertise in family violence. She has published several articles and books about her research on intimate partner violence and guns.

Suicidal men, or men who kill their partner and then themselves, sometimes don’t show any red flags.

“People don’t think of them as a domestic violence offender,” Salari said. “They think the person is an upstanding individual — quiet, but seeming to be functioning well.

“The perpetrators were often reported to be kind or good parents. Neither the victims nor family members previously reported fear of danger from the perpetrator,” she also said in a 2021 article.

Firearms make domestic violence deadlier, with women five times more likely to die if their abuser owns a gun.

–University of Utah professor Sonia Salari

A homicidal-intent man, however, may have already exhibited abuse toward his partner, who is in fear and may be trying to get away from the perpetrator, she said.

“Most instances of intimate partner violence are difficult to detect, because neither victims nor perpetrators are likely to report family violence,” she said in the article.

Salari further noted in a 2018 article, “While not all (intimate partner violence) leads to murder, unresolved and ongoing abuse can escalate, increasing the risk of a male abuser killing his female victims.

“Male-on-female homicide, particularly in young (intimate partner) relationships, are associated with motives of isolation, competition, jealousy and entitlement,” she saids.

Salari has also done extensive research on gun violence and domestic shootings.

“Firearms make domestic violence deadlier, with women five times more likely to die if their abuser owns a gun,” according to an article she co-authored in 2021. “And 20 times higher mortality if they have been previously threatened with a firearm.”

She also points out that gun sales in the United State rose dramatically between 2018 and 2021.

Salari says many victims of domestic violence do not call police. But when someone does, she says those victims need to be believed.

“Victims are the experts in their own case and should be believed when they show concern about their safety, or when they seek help from police, a victim’s advocate, or court services,” she said.

A victim’s survival rate is 68% better if an expert, such as police or a victim’s advocate, get involved, Salari said. She says tools such as the lethality assessment protocol that police are required to conduct on domestic violence calls, are important and she hopes tools like that will continue to evolve.

“Our research suggests that (lethality assessment protocol) screening tools should be modified for older women, who are more likely to die by a husband with suicidal ideation, and perhaps no history of domestic violence. Under the cover of normalcy, most elder adult women do not realize they are endangered and do not appear to be fleeing in fear. While some in the media may falsely perceive this to be agreement with the violence, there is little evidence to suggest this is true.

“Most were ambushed while going about the business of the day, or while sleeping in bed,” she wrote in her 2021 article. “These women were cut down without warning in such a way that they didn’t seek protective orders.”

Domestic violence resources

Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:

Most recent Police & Courts stories

Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that.

Garden within walls of Utah prison gives inmates unique chance to grow

Published

2 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Garden within walls of Utah prison gives inmates unique chance to grow

SALT LAKE CITY — At the Utah State Correctional Facility, within the walls of confinement is a rare form of freedom…a vegetable garden.

“You name it, we have tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, kale. Kohlrabi, everything you see at the store plus more,” explained Todd Barszcz, the case manager for the prison’s program reentry program.

Cody Neilson, who is serving a life sentence, is one of the 32 prisoners who spends up to six hours a day tending to the plants growing within the walls.

“It’s freedom,” Neilson said. “When you’re here, you’re not in prison.”

The unique opportunity is part of the prison’s horticulture program that allows certain inmates to work while incarcerated.

“I will check them on our computer system, I’ll look to see when their last write-ups were,” Barszcz said. “You have to behave not only here, but back on your housing unit.”

The food grown is used in a different program for culinary arts at the prison, helping supply fresh produce.

“We grow specifically for them,” Barszcz explained. “So they’re not using prepackaged food and stuff like that. We’re able to provide them with fresh foods so they can get the most of the experience.”

To both those running the program and those participating, gardening is not only a privilege, it’s therapeutic.

“Coming out of max come to here I was diabetic, I was taking insulin, I was taking 11 meds a day,” Neilson said. “I don’t take nothing now.”

Inmates are paid a small amount for participating and can earn a certificate in the gardening industry but more importantly, it gives them a sense of purpose.

“It gives us something that we can give back to the public, you know, a little bit of, you know, we’re sorry, but I’m here, but let me try and do the best I can and make the best of our situation,” he said.

According to The Utah Department of Corrections, 96% of inmates at the prison are likely to be released at some point so experts say these “work and learn” opportunities are essential.

“When you start talking about doing rehabilitation and teaching and educating to reduce recidivism within the institution, so that when people are released, they are less likely to come back,” Barszcz said. “That’s kind of why I’m so proud is because this represents the potential of what we can do as a correctional facility.”

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Utah

FOX 13 Investigates: Utah soldier discharged after domestic violence charges

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

FOX 13 Investigates: Utah soldier discharged after domestic violence charges

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah National Guard has discharged a soldier who has been convicted of domestic violence and related offenses and who was on recordings saying slurs and insults against presidents Obama and Biden, according to the man’s ex-wife and victim.

FOX 13 News has been reporting on the case of former Utah Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Christian Marx for more than 2 ½ years. In 2021, he was charged with assaulting his then-wife, Erica Lukes.

About three years after he was first charged with crimes, the Utah National Guard opted in February of this year to issue Marx a general discharge, according to Lukes, who said she was told such by her National Guard victim’s advocate. A Utah National Guard spokesman declined to confirm that to FOX 13.

It was a reversal for the National Guard. Spokesmen had previously said commanders were waiting on the civilian courts to adjudicate Marx’s charges.

“I definitely do question though, why [the discharge] has taken such a long time,” Lukes said in a recent interview with FOX 13.

A general discharge would allow Marx to keep his veteran’s benefits.

NEW COUNTS

Then in April, with other charges still pending, Marx was cited for domestic violence against a second woman, this time in Centerville. Days later, he was arrested again and charged with a felony for violation of a jail release order.

Marx would later tell a judge he went back to the woman’s apartment when she was not there to retrieve clothes, but the terms of his release for the previous domestic violence citation said he was to have no contact with the woman and to stay away from her residence.

Marx spent 34 days in the Davis County jail before he could secure his release. In May, he reached an agreement with prosecutors in Salt Lake City for the assaults against Lukes. Marx pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of domestic violence assault. A second count was dismissed.

The judge sentenced Marx to time served – even though those days he spent in jail were for a different victim.

Lukes said that’s not enough.

“I believe, without a doubt, my life is and will continue to be in danger as will be his latest victim,” Lukes told the judge at Marx’s sentencing hearing.

Marx assured the judge he would have no more contact with Lukes.

“If you do,” Third District Court Judge Barry Lawrence warned Marx, “and it comes back to me, then all bets are off and you’re going to spend a year in jail.”

Back in Davis County, on June 10, Marx reached another deal with prosecutors. The violation of the jail release agreement was reduced to a misdemeanor. Marx pleaded guilty.

Second District Judge Ronald Russell again gave Marx credit for the 34 days in jail – no additional incarceration. Marx must serve 18 months probation.

During the hearing, Marx apologized for violating the order and summarized his military service.

“I did two combat tours in Iraq; combat tour in Bagram,” he said.

“Thank you for your service,” Russell replied.

THREATS OF VIOLENCE

The Utah National Guard also declined a FOX 13 interview request to discuss its separation from Marx and public records requests seeking copies of its investigations into Marx.

Besides the criminal charges in civilian court, Lukes had supplied the national guard with recordings she made.

“That f___ing Sudanese ni____ and his f___ing white f___ing wigger tied our hands behind our backs,” Marx is heard on a recording Lukes made on Nov. 7, 2020, the same day the Associated Press called Joe Biden the winner of the U.S. presidential election. Marx was talking about his time as a soldier in Afghanistan.

“That f___ing needs to get f___ing executed,” Marx continued. “And his f___ing Biden f___ing bully — f___ing both of them f___ing ni_____.

“F___ing Biden. I f___ing hate his guts. If I ever see him, if I ever see him in person God forbid, God forbid, I am going to insult the president and beat the f___ out of him.”

Lukes made another recording on Nov. 13, 2020.

“I have no issues f___ing taking a gun and starting shooting,” Marx said, “start shooting left-wing mother f___ers at their rallies. No problem at all.”

According to documents, Meanwhile, Lawrence dismissed a felony gun possession charge against Marx. That count alleged Marx fired a pistol on the national guard range in 2021 after a protective order had been issued against him. Marx had pleaded not guilty.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office had said witnesses were on vacation or out of the country due to military deployments. Lawrence left open the chance for prosecutors to refile

the charge. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told FOX 13 his office hasn’t yet determined if it will refile.

The dismissal was a blow to Lukes. She had hoped a felony conviction and a permanent loss of firearms rights that go with it would offer her additional protection.

“After the dismissal of the felony case,” Lukes said, “I literally couldn’t get out of bed for two weeks.”

“I feel more afraid for my life than I did back” when she was married to Marx, she said.

Through his attorney, Marx has declined interview with FOX 13.

Marx had pleaded not guilty to the domestic violence citation in Centerville Justice Court. That charge was dismissed Thursday but with a note saying – because he now has prior domestic violence convictions – the charge may be refiled in state court.

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Utah

Durzi signs 4-year extension with Utah

Published

16 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

By Eric Stephens, Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun

Having an aggressive first offseason following its relocation from Arizona as the Coyotes, Utah Hockey Club continued solidifying its defense corps by re-signing Sean Durzi to a four-year contract on Sunday.

The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported Durzi’s extension coming in with an average value of $6 million. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the 25-year-old Durzi will make $7.1 million next season, $5.6 million in 2025-26, $4.8 million in 2026-27 and $6.5 million in 2027-28. A 10-team no-trade clause will be in effect in the third and fourth years.

“We’re thrilled to have Sean in Utah with the team for the next four years,” Utah HC general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Sean is a reliable two-way defenseman who can anchor the power-play and provide offense from the blue line. He’s a young, highly skilled defenseman with an incredibly bright future, and we look forward to having him as a core player for this organization.”

DURZI RETURNS ✍️🩵
We have signed Sean Durzi to a four-year contract!#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/rXBdB0szg6
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) June 30, 2024

Durzi led all Coyotes defensemen with nine goals, 32 assists and 41 points. Traded by the Los Angeles Kings last summer for a second-round pick in this year’s draft, the 2018 second-round choice by the Toronto Maple Leafs flourished in a top-four, big-minute role with the Coyotes after playing further down in the Kings’ defense lineup.

“I think I have much more to reach,” Durzi told The Athletic last October. “That’s always been my way of going about it. You always feel as if you can give more and I think that’s really, really important for myself. My ceiling is — I don’t know yet. I believe there’s so much more I can get better at. I’ve already learned so much more this year than I even thought I could learn. And that’s always how it is, what you do day in, day out. Can I get better in these areas?

“And that’s my goal. My goal is to be the complete player. A guy you can depend on whether you need a goal with a minute-30 left or whether you need one off the board with a minute-30 left. A guy who’s going to be able to fight for his teammates and put his heart on the line for the team every single night.”

Utah has been active at the start of Ryan Smith’s ownership of the club. Without any of its defensemen signed following the 2023-24 season, Utah and its loads of salary-cap space have reshaped the blue line by trading for Mikhail Sergachev (with J.J. Moser heading to Tampa Bay) and John Marino while bringing back Michael Kesselring and Juuso Välimäki on new contracts.

In re-signing Durzi to a major deal, Utah could enter next season with its new No. 1 defenseman in Sergachev and the right-shot Durzi as his likely partner on the top pair. Utah, which has been making a splash under Smith, still has what CapFriendly estimates is another $22 million available under the cap as free agency begins Monday.

GO DEEPER

Is Utah Hockey Club playoff-bound after adding Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino?

(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

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