This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Three people have been charged with murder after a man was run over and killed last week while trying to stop the trio from allegedly stealing a trailer.
Jay Richard Urry, 41; Jesse Floyd Searle, 34; and Jeanette Teddie Miner, 26, were charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with murder, robbery and burglary, all first-degree felonies. They also were charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
The victim, 49-year-old Eric Carter, died while trying to stop the three from driving away with a Wells Cargo utility trailer that belonged to a friend of his, according to West Valley City police.
Charges state that Urry and Searle went to the area of 4840 West and 4500 South between midnight and 1 a.m. Dec. 22 to steal items they believed had been abandoned. They stole the trailer, then returned with Miner and the trailer to steal more items.
They were loading items into the trailer when Carter confronted them and demanded that they not steal "his friend's" trailer, which was attached to a pickup truck, according to charges. As the suspects left, Carter jumped into the bed of the pickup truck and called 911.
Searle drove to a nearby LDS Church at 4420 S. Early Duke Drive (5080 West), where he got out, confronted Carter, then walked away, charges state.
Urry told police that he tried to unhitch the trailer, but could not because Carter was standing on the tongue, charges state. Urry said he got back in the truck with Carter still holding on.
Miner then started driving the truck. When she caught up with Searle, she told him, "Get [Carter] off the truck."
"Miner said she watched in the rearview mirror as Mr. Searle pushed Mr. Carter and Mr. Carter fell," according to the charges. "Miner then accelerated quickly. In the rearview mirror, Miner saw Mr. Carter get struck by the trailer and felt the bump as the trailer traveled over Mr. Carter's body."
During his 911 call, Carter had provided information about what was happening, but dispatchers lost contact with him after several minutes. Police officers responding to the general location found Carter's body in the roadway of Royal Ann Drive, about a quarter-mile from where the trailer was stolen.
The pickup truck was later found in Kearns and the trailer was found in West Valley City, police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said.
Miner had reported the truck stolen after it was found, which the probable cause statement alleges was done "to thwart the efforts of law enforcement."
Urry, Searle and Miner, who were all booked into the Salt Lake County jail, do not yet have court appearances scheduled. Bail for each was set at $1 million, cash only, according to court documents.
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