A 72-year-old Fairview man was arrested last month on suspicion of killing his 65-year-old wife by beating her, but no homicide charges have been filed, pending completion of an autopsy.
Ronald Leroy Hall meanwhile has been charged with one count of second-degree felony drug distribution for allegedly filling his wife's pain medication prescription a day after she died.
Deputy Sanpete County Attorney Brody Keisel said Monday he could not comment on the death of Vivian L. Hall until a medical examiner's report is finished.
Meanwhile, a preliminary hearing for Hall on the drug charge is set for Nov. 25 before Judge Marvin Bagley.
Hall was arrested Oct. 30 on suspicion of murder, prescription fraud and obstructing justice after he allegedly admitted to police that on Sept. 6 he struck his wife with an open hand hard enough to bruise her left eye.
The next morning, the woman was unresponsive and Ronald Hall and his ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie Hall, called for an ambulance, according to a probable cause statement filed by police in 6th District Court.
Vivian Hall was taken to Sanpete Valley Hospital, then flown to a Salt Lake City hospital, where she died nearly three weeks later, on Sept. 26.
Ronald Hall initially told hospital personnel and police that his wife had fallen out of bed and hit her head on a night stand, according to the court document.
But the day after Vivian Hall died, a relative called police to report she suspected foul play, which prompted police to interview others who had been in the home.
Ronald Hall's daughter, Leslie Hall, told police many family members believe he had beaten his wife, but did not report their concerns because they were "very frightened of Ronald Hall because of the man he was," according to the court document.
Debbie Hall told police she helped Vivian Hall into bed on Sept. 6 after Ronald Hall struck his wife at least twice.
Debbie Hall's 10-year-old granddaughter told police she was taking a bath when she heard "a whole bunch of fighting and ... yelling and slamming and slapping."
Ronald Hall's criminal history dates back to 1956, when he was 19 years old, and includes 20 arrests and 11 convictions, according to the court document. The arrests include attempt to commit murder, aggravated kidnaping, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, burglary and grand larceny.
A search of Utah's court system shows no criminal cases against Hall other than the newly filed drug case and a handful of traffic tickets.
Police also found that Ronald Hall and Debbie Hall each had filled a prescription for hydrocodone pills prescribed for Vivian Hall.
Charges have not been filed against Debbie Hall, who claimed Ronald Hall asked her to get the medication so he could give it to "a guy named Kevin," according to the court document.
Ronald Hall claimed he filled a prescription for the pain pills "because Debbie was selling them."
