voiceofreason
Senior News Editor since 2011
https://kutv.com/news/crime-map/uta...-2-homeless-people-dousing-them-with-gasoline
Utah man, woman arrested for torturing 2 homeless people, dousing them with gasoline
Wednesday, March 11th 2020
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (KUTV) — A man and woman are both accused of attempted murder after police say they doused two homeless people with gasoline as they beat and assaulted them -- fracturing a woman's skull, and fracturing a man's spine.
According to the South Salt Lake Police Department, 25-year-old Tausaafia Kayla Fitisemanu and 27-year-old Tymel Devonne Hicks are both facing kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and attempted murder charges -- all felonies.
Police say that around 10 p.m. Tuesday they were dispatched to the Mountain Shadows Apartments at 3856 West 565 South.
When cops arrived, they say a "terrified" 29-year-old woman, who had been beaten and doused with gasoline, approached them, telling them to "hurry" because her 33-year-old male friend was being beaten and doused with gasoline.
The woman led police to a second-story apartment where the pair were assaulted. Police say they could smell gasoline coming from the apartment as they approached it.
Police ordered those inside to come out. First, Fitisemanu came out, followed shortly after by Hicks.
Both were arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County Jail.
The victims were taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The male victim sustained a spinal fracture, in addition to a large gash in his head, and numerous bruises all over his body. The female victim sustained a skull fracture, as well as bruises from the assault.
Police say Hicks had invited "two homeless friends" over at his apartment.
During the visit, an argument began over a missing gun. The probable cause statement describes some disturbing details about the situation:
During this time the suspect ended up beating two victims. This escalated to the suspect calling 3 other males over to his apartment to assist with the assault. The victims reported having been pistol-whipped and hit in the head with the butt of a shotgun, and having a knife held to the throat of one of the victims. During this time the victims were held against their will and were forced into a bathtub where gasoline was poured over them. Threats were made by the suspects that they were going to light the victims on fire to burn them. During this torture, the victims were then made to drink the gasoline. Afterward the victims were then made to undress and put on other clothing that was supplied by the suspects as their property, including cellphones, was taken and boxed up.
Utah man, woman arrested for torturing 2 homeless people, dousing them with gasoline
Wednesday, March 11th 2020
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (KUTV) — A man and woman are both accused of attempted murder after police say they doused two homeless people with gasoline as they beat and assaulted them -- fracturing a woman's skull, and fracturing a man's spine.
According to the South Salt Lake Police Department, 25-year-old Tausaafia Kayla Fitisemanu and 27-year-old Tymel Devonne Hicks are both facing kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and attempted murder charges -- all felonies.
Police say that around 10 p.m. Tuesday they were dispatched to the Mountain Shadows Apartments at 3856 West 565 South.
When cops arrived, they say a "terrified" 29-year-old woman, who had been beaten and doused with gasoline, approached them, telling them to "hurry" because her 33-year-old male friend was being beaten and doused with gasoline.
The woman led police to a second-story apartment where the pair were assaulted. Police say they could smell gasoline coming from the apartment as they approached it.
Police ordered those inside to come out. First, Fitisemanu came out, followed shortly after by Hicks.
Both were arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County Jail.
The victims were taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The male victim sustained a spinal fracture, in addition to a large gash in his head, and numerous bruises all over his body. The female victim sustained a skull fracture, as well as bruises from the assault.
Police say Hicks had invited "two homeless friends" over at his apartment.
During the visit, an argument began over a missing gun. The probable cause statement describes some disturbing details about the situation:
During this time the suspect ended up beating two victims. This escalated to the suspect calling 3 other males over to his apartment to assist with the assault. The victims reported having been pistol-whipped and hit in the head with the butt of a shotgun, and having a knife held to the throat of one of the victims. During this time the victims were held against their will and were forced into a bathtub where gasoline was poured over them. Threats were made by the suspects that they were going to light the victims on fire to burn them. During this torture, the victims were then made to drink the gasoline. Afterward the victims were then made to undress and put on other clothing that was supplied by the suspects as their property, including cellphones, was taken and boxed up.