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SALT LAKE CITY — A Millcreek man has been convicted of beating and murdering his roommate almost five years ago.
A jury found Tyler James Vernon, 43, guilty of murder, a first-degree felony, after about three hours of deliberations last week.
On Feb. 18, 2019, a witness saw a man run out of Vernon's house at 1280 E. 3770 South with a fire poker, and he heard the man yell, "His head is smashed in," according to charging documents.
Officers said Vernon made several statements after they arrived at the scene, including, "I killed him" and, "He's not breathing."
Vernon was initially not cooperative and referred to officers as demons when they tried to interview him, according to charges. One officer said he was making fun of the police.
Steven Richard Nyce, 61, suffered severe head injuries and police said it looked like he had been beaten to death. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vernon's trial was set multiple times over the last few years but was delayed — at least once because attorneys were trying to negotiate a plea deal — until this month.
"I hope this conviction helps to deliver some measure of justice to the family and loved ones of Steven Nyce," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement. "This office will relentlessly pursue accountability for those that carry out heinous and brutal attacks like this one."
Vernon is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 16. Under Utah law, a conviction of murder means a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
