Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Prosecutors filed attempted murder charges Friday against Gretchen Bloyer, 53, accusing her of trying to kill her parents.
Salt Lake County prosecutors say on Dec. 4, Bloyer, started her father's car, closed the garage, near 4500 South and 3400 East, and then let it run for almost six hours.
Prosecutors believe Bloyer wanted the fumes from the exhaust to kill her elderly parents who were inside their home; a home she shares with them.
The affidavit claims Bloyer called her sister and told her what she had done. Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Gregory Ferbrache said, "The defendant did indicate to her sister that she did call the residence approximately six hours after leaving the vehicle running."
Her parents, Donald and Esther Bloyer were taken to the hospital the following day as a precaution and are OK.
Prosecutors say Donald became aware of the running vehicle, walked out to the garage and turned it off.
Bloyer was the primary caregiver to her parents. Because of that relationship, there's a domestic violence part of the attempted murder charges. "The fact that domestic violence is added to the charge does not in and of itself indicate a harsher charge," Ferbrache said. "It does allow if there's a subsequent defense by the defendant to enhance that subsequent offense."
Bloyer is in jail on a $250,000 bail.
Prosecutors did not release a motive.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
