Police: Man arrested in Millcreek killing had metal object in hand, called officers demons

Police: Man arrested in Millcreek killing had metal object in hand, called officers demons

(Sean Moody, KSL TV)


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MILLCREEK — Police say a man who was arrested on Monday in connection with the death of a Millcreek man had a "metal object in his hands," and told someone nearby that he had killed a person, according to a jail report.

Tyler James Vernon, 37, was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of aggravated murder.

Unified police arrived about 2 p.m. Monday to a residence near 1280 E. 3770 South. Upon arrival, they found a man holding a "metal object," the jail report states.

The officers asked the man to drop the object and he did. As officers were taking the man into custody, they noticed blood on him, according to the report.

Inside the residence, police found Steven Richard Nyce, 61, lying face up near a couch, the jail report states. Nyce had "suffered severe head injuries," according to the jail report.

It appeared as if there had been a struggle inside the residence, according to the report, "and items were knocked over." It looked as if someone had "beaten the victim to death," responding officers said, according to the report.

Investigators did not go into further detail about what the metal object was.

Paramedics arrived on scene shortly after police and declared Nyce dead, the jail report states.

Vernon was taken to the police station for an interview but refused to talk with officers, the report states.

When police tried to interview him, Vernon “referred to the officers as demons and commanded them to release him in the name of his God,” the jail report states.

Vernon shared the same address as Nyce, but it is not clear how the two knew each other. Vernon has a Utah criminal history that includes several alcohol-related crimes, according to court records.

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