Homicides in Utah claimed 38 in '02

1. ST. GEORGE, Jan. 3 — Ted Richard Banister, 37, Hurricane, was shot six times at Southgate Golf Course where he was a groundskeeper. Prosecutors believe the motive was robbery. Six people were arrested in connection with the crime, three were charged with murder. Juan Antonio Olvera, 19, was charged with aggravated murder, a capital felony, aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and witness tampering, a third-degree felony. In an agreement with prosecutors, Olvera pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder and first-degree felony aggravated robbery. Arthur Audette, 18, pleaded guilty in November to a reduced charge of one count of murder and one count of robbery, both second-degree felonies. He will be sentenced Jan 11. Koda Quest Lanza, 17, St. George, pleaded guilty in August to first-degree murder, and the charge of aggravated robbery was dropped.

2. KANE COUNTY, Jan. 18 — Douglas Jarina, 28, was shot and killed by a friend. His friend, James Perkins, then committed suicide. Both men were from Las Vegas at a cabin about 40 miles east of Cedar City preparing for a family gathering.

3. WEST VALLEY CITY, Jan. 27 — Amy Jensen, 29, was shot to death by her common-law husband, Chad Hendrickson, 27, in a murder-suicide. The two had a history of domestic violence. They apparently argued on the way home from a club. Once they were home, she grabbed a gun and accidently fired one shot. No one was hit. Relatives who had been talking on the phone with Jensen said the argument then seemed to calm down. The next day, however, the couple was found dead in the kitchen. They had two children together.

4. OREM, Jan. 27 — Miguel Ruelas, 39, was found shot to death in his apartment in a four-plex. Police have searched for Ruelas' roommate, Arturo Daniel Vaila-Solis, 24, since the incident but believe he may have returned to Mexico.

5. TAYLORSVILLE, Feb. 5 — Salote Otutaha, 22, died from multiple stab wounds to her heart at an apartment near 4730 South and 2200 West. Ailine Tauteoli, 26, was charged with homicide, a first-degree felony. Authorities believe Tauteoli and Otutaha argued before the stabbing and had fought at a social gathering previously. The case was still tied up in court proceedings and motions in December, and the preliminary hearing had not been completed.