Murder, sex charges filed in West Jordan slaying

Murder and sexual assault charges have been filed against a man accused of killing 15-year-old Kara Hopkins.

Parley Jeffs Dutson, 18, was charged late Thursday in West Jordan's 3rd District Court with one count of criminal homicide and aggravated sexual assault, both first-degree felonies.

According to a probable cause statement filed with the charges, West Jordan police said Dutson and Hopkins were at a party together on April 7 at the Willow Cove apartments near 9300 S. Redwood Road. In court documents, detectives wrote that witnesses claimed to see Dutson "grab the victim, Kara Hopkins, and ask her to have sexual intercourse with him."

When Hopkins refused, witnesses said Dutson became angry and pointed a gun at her. Hopkins tried to hide behind another man who tried to intervene, court documents said. Dutson shot her, police said.

Court papers say the witnesses tried to check on her and then left the apartment to get help. When Cody Cross, a security guard on patrol, entered the apartment, he saw Dutson in his underwear and a T-shirt next to the victim.

"Mr. Cross heard the defendant chant words indicating a desire to have sex with Ms. Hopkins until she died," West Jordan police detective Daniel Roberts wrote.

Hopkins was rushed to LDS Hospital, where she later died.

A warrant filed earlier this week said that friends told police Dutson had been smoking marijuana before the shooting. His behavior was described as "indicative of a psychedelic physiological response."

Dutson remains in the Salt Lake County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

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