Grim tally: Utah homicide victims 2009

1. NORTH SALT LAKE, Jan. 4 — Brittany Nichols, 23, was stabbed to death after trying to break up with her boyfriend. Johnny Bell, 21, boarded a bus for California after the homicide. He was stopped by police in Cove Fort and arrested. Bell pleaded guilty to murder, a first-degree felony, and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. His first chance at parole is in 2034. Motive: domestic. Method: stabbing.

2. SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 15 — Cesar Ramirez, 18, was shot Jan. 9 while driving with a friend along I-15 near 2100 South, and later died as a result of his injuries. Originally, investigators thought the incident may have been a road rage over texting while driving but later determined it to be a case of gang violence. Matthew James Day, 24, of West Point, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, was sentenced to a term of two to 20 years in prison. Motive: gangs. Method: shooting.

3. KEARNS, Jan. 21 — Esteban Manuel Saidi, 16, was shot and killed during a fight between two other Kearns High School students about a block away from the school. Saidi was a bystander. Ricky Angilau, 16, was charged as an adult with murder, a first-degree felony. The case is on hold while two issues involving Angilau being prosecuted in the adult system are being appealed to the Utah Supreme Court. Alleged motive: gangs. Method: shooting.

4. SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 27 — Adolph Neal, 69, was stabbed in the throat and killed during a drug-related dispute at an apartment complex at 320 E. 100 South. Joy Lynn Adams, an acquaintance of Neal, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to murder, a first-degree felony. She was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Motive: drugs. Method: stabbing.

5. WEST VALLEY CITY, Feb. 5 — JoJo Brandstatt, 18, was shot and killed on the West Ridge Golf Course allegedly because he was wearing a red shirt — the color of a rival gang. Prosecutors say Antonie Hunter Farani, a 14-year-old gang member, was the reported ring leader of the group and the triggerman. He is charged with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, and has been certified to stand trial in adult court. If convicted, he cannot face the death penalty because of his age. Co-defendants Jeremiah H. Williamson, 28, Spencer Isaiah Cater, 18, and Shardise O. Malaga, 19, have each pleaded not guilty to murder, a first-degree felony. A trial is set to begin in Malaga's case Feb. 2. Alleged motive: gangs. Method: stabbing.