Violent 2024 in Utah: Domestic Violence, Gangs, and Road Rage Killings
Utah’s 2024 was marked by a grim surge in violent crime, with a staggering 100 homicides recorded, the highest number since 2020. The state witnessed a variety of tragedies, from road rage incidents to gang-related violence, domestic abuse, and even a police officer’s death. Among the starkest events was the execution of Taberon Dave Honie, the first execution in Utah in 14 years, and the heart-wrenching deaths of multiple children at the hands of parents.
Gun violence remained a major contributor, with 68 of the 100 homicide victims falling to gunfire, though that was a slight decrease from the previous year. Road rage incidents escalated in 2024, claiming four lives, while gang violence and domestic-related murders continued to fuel the year’s grim statistics.
Among the most shocking cases were those involving parents accused of horrific abuse or even killing their entire families. In West Haven, Gavin Peterson, a 12-year-old boy, died after enduring years of neglect and malnutrition. His father, stepmother, and brother were charged with child abuse homicide. Tragically, other children also fell victim to violent familial acts. Maribel Ibarra, in a tragic instance of mental health struggles, shot her three young children before taking her own life in September. A similar family tragedy unfolded in December when Dae Rah allegedly killed his wife and children in a brutal shooting, leaving one surviving child with a traumatic brain injury.
The youngest person accused of taking another’s life in 2024 was just 9 years old, charged with shooting his father in Tooele. This alarming trend of young people being involved in violence highlights the ongoing need for intervention and support to prevent such tragedies.
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Road rage continued to be a deadly trend. In June, two individuals, James Saccato and Justin Doman, were involved in a confrontation that escalated to deadly violence in Clearfield. Another incident in Lehi led to the death of Michael Alden Brown, who was knocked out during a road rage fight and later died. Patrick Hayes, 61, also lost his life after a confrontation near Jordanelle State Park in September, when he was shot by Greg DeBoer. DeBoer claims self-defense but faced charges for fleeing the scene and tampering with evidence.
While men were often the victims of these violent episodes, women also played central roles in some notorious killings. Jennifer Gledhill, 41, allegedly shot her estranged husband in his sleep, disposing of his body in an undiscovered grave. Similarly, Matthew Restelli’s tragic death involved a plot orchestrated by his estranged wife and her family, resulting in a shooting that appeared to be self-defense but was later uncovered to be premeditated.
Gang-related violence surged throughout the year, especially during the summer months. Nuer Deng, a 17-year-old student, became an innocent casualty of a gang dispute in West Valley, while 18-year-old Naod Welday was shot while sitting in a car, mistaken for a gang member. Even younger victims were caught in the crossfire, like Kian Hamilton, a 16-year-old baseball player who died after a fight at a parking lot in Sandy.
A few fatal accidents also resulted in manslaughter charges. Richard Hendrickson and his daughter, Sally, died in July when an improperly secured bulldozer fell from a tow truck and struck their car. The tow truck driver, Michael Love, faces manslaughter charges for exceeding the vehicle’s weight capacity. In October, a police chase in West Valley led to a fatal crash that killed Nancy Arbon, with the driver, Cesar Perez, charged with murder.
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The opioid epidemic continued to take lives in Utah as well, with several fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl. John Parry and Kimberly Hare were charged with manslaughter after supplying fentanyl to Kylee Dittrich-Gray, who died from an overdose. Several others, including Traeger Bradshaw and Kim Marie Lyons, lost their lives due to similar circumstances, underscoring the ongoing crisis surrounding substance abuse.
Utah’s 2024 statistics tell a troubling story of escalating violence across multiple fronts. With a combination of domestic violence, road rage, gang activity, and drug-related deaths, the year has been marked by senseless loss and tragedy, leaving the state grappling with questions about how to address the root causes of these violent crimes.
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