Before an acquaintance beat him to death with a metal pipe Friday in Neff Canyon, Perkins-Link, 19, had spent the past two years recovering from injuries he suffered in a massive car wreck, said his father, Don Link.

Six years before that, he underwent brain surgery for tumors.

"I don't know why these bad things keep happening to Ben," his mystified father said Monday, three days after Christopher Hewitt, 18, of Millcreek, confessed to the beating.

Investigators said Hewitt, Perkins-Link and friend Seth Coleman, of Cottonwood Heights, arrived at the Neff Canyon trail head about 11 p.m. The three were near the parking lot when Hewitt began striking at Perkins-Link and Coleman with a metal pipe or bar. There was no argument or fight going on between them, investigators said.

Link said he has spoken with Coleman, who escaped with minor injuries, and learned that Hewitt said he brought the metal bar to fend off bears.

"[Hewitt] was the one insisting on going up to Neff Canyon, and he started expressing this fear of bears," Link recounted.

The three teens had stopped at the Links' home in Holladay before continuing to Neff Canyon, Link said.

Investigators were offering few details, claiming the case - the suspect's confession in particular - are peculiarly sensitive.

"All homicide is serious; this one could rise to the very top," said Salt Lake County sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak. He would not elaborate.

Childhood friend James Andrus said he most admired Perkins-Link's resilience.

"He was constantly happy. He always had a smile on his face, trying to make the best of everything," Andrus said.

Perkins-Link's car wreck in 2005 was a major setback, Link said. He had undergone seven surgeries since then, the most recent in April, and was scheduled for two more.

"He still had lots of adjustments to make," Link said. After the crash, Perkins-Link transferred from Skyline High School, where he was a classmate of Coleman, to Valley High School, where his father is principal. Perkins-Link graduated in 2006.

Perkins-Link loved sports, especially basketball and golf, Link said. He described his son as sensitive, if not "always an angel."

"He was a good kid - a good friend," Link said. "I'll miss him a lot."

ealberty@sltrib.com