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Price • Seth Peterson thought his mother and his brother were aliens.
Or maybe androids. He said something about both possibilities, according to preliminary hearing testimony Wednesday.
"But he made it clear he believed it wasn't his actual mother and his actual brother?" asked defense attorney Rudy Bautista.
"Correct," replied Carbon County sheriff's Deputy Shawn Addley.
Addley said Peterson was surprised to learn later, at the jail, that it really had been his mother and brother, Susan and James Peterson, whom he had shot and killed.
Peterson, 25, on Wednesday sat in a 7th District courtroom here during a hearing that will determine whether there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. He is charged with two counts of aggravated murder as well as counts of attempted murder, robbery and failure to stop at the command of a police officer.
That last charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. The others are punishable by up to life in prison. The Carbon County attorney's office has said it will not seek the death penalty.
At the end of the hearing, Judge George Harmond Jr. ruled that there was probable cause for Peterson to stand trial.
After the ruling, Peterson pleaded not guilty to all charges. Harmond set a hearing for June 19 to discuss scheduling a trial.
Witnesses on Wednesday described Seth Peterson as not making sense the day before the killings and the day of — Nov. 2.
Seth Peterson's uncle, Christian Peterson, testified that he and Seth Peterson had used methamphetamine together in the past, and that Seth Peterson used methamphetamine Nov. 1. That day, he and Seth Peterson went to Salt Lake County to pick up some metal.
Near 5400 South and Redwood Road, Seth Peterson exited the truck, said he would be OK, and walked off, Christian Peterson said.
Christian Peterson's father called from Salt Lake County the next day and said Seth Peterson was asleep on his couch about 10 miles from the spot on Redwood Road. Christian Peterson testified he picked up Seth Peterson and they started driving back toward a family farm near Price. Along the way, they stopped at a Wal-Mart in Spanish Fork and Seth Peterson bought some ammunition for a .223-caliber rifle.
Also on the drive, Christian Peterson said, Seth Peterson discussed an "evil entity" who had made him an offer: Provide a brother's limb or life, and Seth Peterson could have power.
"I just kind of blew it off, not really thinking anything serious," Christian Peterson testified, "and said, 'You told him no, right?' "
Christian Peterson explained in court that he and Seth Peterson grew up "in a polygamous group in Salt Lake" where good and evil spirits were discussed as part of the faith. Christian Peterson said he had never been approached by spirits, but he had heard from others who had.
At the farm, Seth Peterson called police, saying he felt threatened by Christian Peterson and Christian Peterson's brother, according to multiple witnesses who testified Wednesday. Sheriff's deputies arrived, and talked with everyone on the farm. Deputies left after about an hour.
Addley said he wasn't sure if Seth Peterson was suffering from mental illness or substance abuse, but that Seth Peterson's mother and brother were on the way to care for him.
Susan Peterson, 45, and James Peterson, 23, arrived. Christian Peterson testified that he decided to look for a wounded deer he was told was on the property.
Christian Peterson loaded a .223-caliber rifle and walked to a four-wheeler. Seth Peterson arrived with a .300 Winchester rifle wanting to go, too, Christian Peterson said. Susan Peterson joined them. Christian Peterson testified he drove the four-wheeler while Seth and Susan Peterson sat on the back.
At one point, Christian Peterson said, he thought he spotted the deer on a hill. Susan asked to see it, and Christian Peterson handed her the .223-caliber rifle so she could look at the deer through the scope.
Christian Peterson sent Seth and Susan Peterson to walk north to cordon the deer. Christian Peterson walked northwest. Christian Peterson testified that his sister-in-law and nephew were out of sight, but he soon heard what sounded like voices arguing.
Then, Christian Peterson testified, he heard a gunshot.
He soon saw Susan Peterson running down the hill with something red on her face. Christian Peterson called out to her, he said, and heard her squealing. He saw Seth Peterson following her and heard Seth Peterson squealing, too, but in what Christian Peterson described as a mocking tone.
Christian Peterson called out to Seth Peterson, asking what had happened to his mother.
"He said he shot her in the f—-ing face," Christian Peterson testified.
Christian Peterson could see Seth Peterson pursuing his mother. Christian Peterson testified he was scared and ducked behind sagebrush. He soon heard another gunshot.
Christian Peterson then saw James Peterson driving a truck up a dirt road near where Seth Peterson was. The truck got stuck in a rut, Christian Peterson said.
Christian Peterson then heard another gunshot, he testified. Soon after that, he heard the truck door open and close, the truck start again, and the truck drive out of the rut and turn around.
Christian Peterson testified he had been running toward a spot in a drainage ditch where he thought Susan Peterson was and lost sight of everything that was happening at the truck. He soon saw the truck driving up the road and saw Seth Peterson getting out of the driver's side, standing on the floorboards and looking around.
"I felt like he was hunting me," Christian Peterson testified.
Christian Peterson checked the chamber in his rifle. He discovered he was no longer holding the .223-caliber he loaded, but rather the .300 Winchester and that it was unloaded. Christian Peterson later deduced Seth Peterson switched rifles with him on the four-wheeler.
Before fleeing the farm, Seth Peterson fired one more rifle shot at Joseph Scott Feichko, a member of the family who owned the farm, Feichko testified.
Seth Peterson was arrested after Addley and other law enforcement pursued him in a car chase through Carbon County.
Addley testified that it was at the jail that Seth Peterson discussed how Susan and James Peterson were aliens or androids.
Earlier in the hearing, Carbon County Sheriff's Detective Leslie Maxfield testified that a medical examiner determined Susan Peterson suffered gunshot wounds to her cheeks and one in her back. James Peterson died from a gunshot that entered his jaw and went out his neck, Maxfield said.
While questions from Carbon County Attorney Jeremiah Humes focused on the calculating and coldblooded aspects of the killing, Bautista asked several questions about how his client's mental state was deteriorating during the killings. Christian Peterson said Seth Peterson seemed to have a good relationship with his mother until he shot her.
Seth Peterson sat at the defense table, occasionally taking notes, wearing an orange striped jumpsuit and looking much better groomed than in the mugshot taken the day of his arrest. At least eight of his family sat behind him in the gallery. Some kept their heads down during morbid parts of testimony. A few sobbed.
Outside the courtroom, Erik Peterson, who said he is one of Seth Peterson's 14 siblings, said members of his family left the polygamous Latter Day Church of Christ, also known as the Kingston Group, gradually and for various reasons from 2013 through 2015.
"Seth was a really good person before the drugs," Erik said.
Twitter: @natecarlisle