Utah man arrested in Calif. stabbing

Utah man arrested in Calif. stabbing


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WEOTT, Calif. — A Utah man has been arrested in the stabbing of a man on a Northern California overpass.

Police responded to reports of a stabbing at the Weott Overpass on US 101 in Weott, California, at about 8:30 p.m. Monday. Officers found a 46-year-old man who they identified as a transient from nearby Redding. Several people were attempting to aid the man, including one person who was applying pressure to the man's chest wound.

Several people told deputies they had found the man in the middle of the road with the chest wound, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies identified the suspect at Clayton Winfield Hamilton, 29, of Orem. Hamilton was treated at the scene for a cut to his hand. He told police he had stabbed the California man 3–4 times with a knife in self-defense.


Hamilton told his friend the victim was evil and he needed to kill him.(He) left the friend, saying he was going to find the victim.

–Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Office


A friend of Hamilton's interviewed at the scene told police he had not seen Hamilton for five years prior to Monday. He said Hamilton had called him Thursday saying he had a business opportunity he wanted to discuss.

On Monday, the friend saw Hamilton speaking with the victim in front of a Shell gas station in Rio Dell. The three ended up eating lunch at McDonald's, where Hamilton told the victim he needed to speak with his friend alone.

"Hamilton told his friend the victim was evil and he needed to kill him," police said. "(He) left the friend, saying he was going to find the victim."

The friend tailed Hamilton's vehicle until it came to a stop in Weott. He witnessed a struggle in the truck, opened the truck door and "saw Hamilton had a knife in his hands and there was blood all over the interior of the truck," according to police. "The victim grabbed Hamilton and began to pull him from the vehicle. This allowed the victim to escape the truck."

The friend then called 911. Police identified the victim at an area hospital, where they were told Hamilton had offered the man a ride. He said Hamilton had swerved off the side of the road during a discussion about religion and told the victim he had to kill him.

Hamilton was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on $500,000 bail.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff's Office regarding the case can call the Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff's Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.


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Stephanie Grimes

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