Nearly 50 slayings reported in 2006

2. MIDVALE, Jan. 6 — George Benally, 43, was found beaten and unconscious near 7200 South and 900 East. He remained in a coma for nearly a week before dying on Jan. 12. Rondal Eddie, 19, was charged with aggravated murder. Eddie later plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to five years to life at the Utah State Prison. Eddie was the son of one of Benally's friends. Robbery was believed to be motive in the slaying, according to investigators.

3. TOQUERVILLE, Jan. 7 — Trisha Stubbs, 20, of St. George, was shot in the back of the head in what investigators believe was a drug-related killing. Jack Daniel Brown, 26, was charged with capital homicide. Two others pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping and had murder charges dropped in exchange for their testimony against Brown. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

4. SALT LAKE COUNTY, Jan. 14 — Steven J. Poulos, a war hero and cousin of well-known auto dealer Gus Paulos, was shot and killed in his home. The two main suspects in the case, 26-year-old Alicia Wingate and 18-year-old Aaron Millenson, were killed in a shootout with police in Kansas on I-70 about a week later. Although the gun found with the couple in Kansas did not match the one used to kill Poulos, investigators said they were still the primary suspects in the case. The Poulos family also believed the duo to be responsible for the homicide and considered the case closed.

5. WEST HAVEN, Feb. 3 — Art Backus, 48, was shot and killed during an argument outside his home by Warren Dee Fellows, 44, who authorities say was in a rage over an affair Backus was having with his wife. When police responded to the 911 call, Fellows aimed a shotgun and handgun at them, prompting them to shoot. Fellows survived and was sentenced to six years to life in prison for first-degree felony murder.

6. TAYLORSVILLE, Feb. 9 — Sonia Mejia, 29, was found dead at the Fairway Apartments, 1141 W. 3900 South. Mejia was six months pregnant at the time. Her unborn child did not survive. Although the homicide was believed to have occurred in broad daylight, investigators have found no witnesses. No arrests have been made or possible suspects named.