Two charged in uncle's death

SALT LAKE CITY — Two men have been charged with killing one of the men's uncles during a fight that took place last year.

Brian Robert Drown, 33, has been charged with homicide by assault, a third-degree felony. The charge stems from a Sept. 7, 2009, physical altercation Drown had with his uncle, Douglas Brundle, 51, in the Rose Park home near 1300 North and 1200 West that Brundle shared with his mother.

Drown is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $100,000 bail. His initial court appearance is set for Jan. 28.

Also facing the same charge is Drown's cousin, Andrew Brundle, 26, who was arrested in Carson City, Nev., and has been jailed there until he can be brought to Utah, according to Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robin Snyder.

Snyder said there had been concerns expressed by family members that Douglas Brundle might have died from an aneurism stemming from a pre-existing health condition. However, she said police now have information from the Utah Medical Examiner's Office stating that Brundle's death was a homicide and the immediate cause of death was "blunt force injuries to the head from multiple blows."

A search warrant issued previously stated that paramedics had been called to the home where they found Brundle outside in "critical, unstable condition." He was taken to a hospital, put on life support and died 12 hours later.

The warrant showed phone logs and text messages from Andrew Brundle's cell phone, including one that said he was going to the house where Douglas Brundle lived and was going to "beat him into a coma."

Andrew Brundle and Drown planned to present Douglas Brundle with some financial paperwork that appears to "keep Andrew Brundle in control," the warrant states.

Douglas Brundle reportedly got "upset and argumentative," he and the other men got into a shoving match and then went outside where a physical fight took place, according to the warrant.

Drown said he hit Douglas Brundle "with his fists several times" and was under the impression that Andrew Brundle had kicked the older man.

Andrew Brundle told police he sent text messages "to a few people to advise them of the assault" and these might have included "hateful statements," according to the warrant.

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com