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There are no fingerprints or DNA evidence linking Donald Eugene Younge to the stabbing death of a University of Utah drama student at her Salt Lake City apartment more than 10 years ago.
But on Tuesday, two survivors of the harrowing home invasion testified that it was Younge who fatally stabbed 22-year-old Amy Quinton.
After the preliminary hearing, 3rd District Judge Ann Boyden ordered Younge, 43, of Illinois, to stand trial for capital murder and nine other felonies.
Lynn Drebes, then 37, testified that Younge appeared in her apartment, near 100 South and 800 East, just after midnight on Aug. 3, 1999.
Drebes said she was watching a movie and eating pizza with her friend and co-worker Erin Warn, then 19, when she headed to the kitchen for a drink. Amy Quinton, who was Drebes' roommate, was studying in another bedroom.
Drebes said Younge grabbed her from behind, put a knife to her throat and told her to be quiet or he would kill her.
But Drebes struggled and yelled, which alerted Warn, who went to Quinton's room and told her to call 911, according to testimony.
Quinton dialed, but before she could speak, Younge burst in, still holding Drebes, and hung up the phone, the women said.
Younge then produced a roll of duct tape and told Warn to tape Quinton. But before Warn could act, Drebes said she decided to ask Younge what he wanted.
"Money, I want some [expletive] money," Younge responded,
She said Younge's demeanor was "hostile, angry ... his rage was so palpable as to be its own physical presence."
But when the 911 operator called back about the hang-up, Younge became "soft-spoken and calm," saying everything was fine, Drebes said.
The change in Younge was "drastic," she said, "like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of thing."
While Younge was on the phone with the operator, Drebes said loudly, "I'll just get you the money," and left the room. Warn said she followed Drebes out to get her own wallet.
Warn testified Younge appeared about to leave with the two wallets when she asked for her identification back.
Younge turned back and stabbed Warn in the abdomen, which nearly severed her liver. Younge then went to Quinton's bedroom and stabbed her once in the heart, according to testimony.
Quinton's screams were "loud, extreme -- primal," according to Drebes, who said Younge punched her in the head as he ran from the apartment.
