Man convicted for murder in 1997 seeking DNA test

Man convicted for murder in 1997 seeking DNA test


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SALT LAKE CITY — A man sentenced to up to life in prison in connection with a fatal stabbing in 1997 is now claiming DNA will exonerate him and is asking for a test.

Jimmy Dean Meinhard, 68, was convicted of murder, a first-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a second-degree felony, in connection with the Feb. 25, 1997, death of Ronald Reed Peterson, 38. Meinhard was sentenced to consecutive sentences of five years to life in prison and one to 15 years in prison. He is now petitioning for a DNA test he says will show he is innocent.

Authorities said Meinhard stabbed Peterson eight times, apparently because he thought Peterson had stolen some of his tools. Meinhard dumped the man's body near the Oquirrh Mountains.

The body was discovered half-buried in snow a few days later by three horseback riders in a remote section of Tooele County.

State prosecutors said Meinhard was seen fighting with Peterson and getting into the man's car the day Peterson was killed. They said a witness also testified that Meinhard admitted to killing Peterson and was covered in blood after the fight. That same witness helped Meinhard use latex gloves and bleach to wipe the victim’s car of blood, prosecutors said.


The most that could be proved by DNA testing is that (Meinhard) did not touch the door handle with his bare hands and that Peterson did not scratch (him) during the murder.

–Andrew Peterson


Attorneys for Meinhard, who is represented by the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, said, however, that Meinhard has long denied knowing anything about the crime and has maintained his innocence. They wrote that no physical evidence linked Meinhard to the crime and that testing will show that his DNA was not under Peterson’s fingernails or on the outside door handle of the victim’s car.

Assistant attorney general Andrew Peterson countered that such a test would not actually prove Meinhard's innocence.

“The most that could be proved by DNA testing is that (Meinhard) did not touch the door handle with his bare hands and that Peterson did not scratch (him) during the murder,” he wrote.

A hearing on the matter took place Thursday morning, with attorneys for both the state and Meinhard arguing their case. Third District Judge L.A. Dever took the issue under advisement and is expected to hand down a written ruling on his decision.

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