Man admits to triple Midvale murder, gets life without parole


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WEST JORDAN — The courtroom was full of emotions Wednesday as a man who shot four people in a Midvale home, killing three of them, took a plea deal.

By pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated murder, David Fresques, 26, avoided a potential death penalty sentence. Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

But Fresques, who goes by the street name "Twisted," did not stick around to listen to the comments from the loved ones of those he murdered in 2013. He asked to be excused from his sentencing and from hearing the victim impact statements, and a reluctant 3rd District Judge Bruce Lubeck agreed.

Victim impact statements are delivered before a judge issues a sentence in hopes of influencing the court's decision. They are typically given by victims and family members of victims. Although the victims are supposed to address the judge, they often have messages for the person who has been convicted.

On Feb. 12, 2013, Fresques shot and killed Omar Jarman, 35, Shontay Young, 34, and Danielle Lucero, 26, inside a house at 8286 S. Adams St. A fourth victim, Vickie Myers, was also shot but survived.

Although no motive has ever been given for the shootings, investigators say the residence was a known drug house.

As Fresques went to leave the courtroom before he was sentenced, some in the audience yelled "coward" as he walked out. Similar sentiments were expressed once the hearing was over.

"When you're a coward, you run and hide in a little cell. And that's all he's doing. He's hiding in a cell," said an angry Randy Candelaria, Jarman's brother-in-law.


I still feel that he's (Fresques) not remorseful. I hope one day that he's able to reach out and apologize for people, but I don't see that happening.

–Sean Young, twin brother to victim Shontay Young


"I don't agree with the deal they made. That's how it works, I guess. I think he's a coward. He should face them, just like they said, and hear what the children have to say and how he's impacted their lives. I know it's not right to feel vengeance toward somebody, but I hope that his family is just as miserable as we are. And I hope that his life in prison is miserable. I hope the food gets worse. I hope everything gets worse for him," he said.

"I just think that he was a coward, not being there to see how he affected the lives of other people," agreed Rickisha Lawrence, Young's niece.

"It was really hard. I just miss my mom," Lucero's daughter, Annalice Lucero, cried after giving her victim impact statement. "He just didn't want to hear us."

Others chose to forgive Fresques so they can move on with their lives rather than constantly worry about him. But they noted that forgiveness is not the same as forgetting.

"He is a person, too, and he deserves to be forgiven. Just like us, he has feelings and so does his family. And his family kind of lost him too for his choices," said Quinton Allred, Jarman's son.

Sean Young, Shontay Young's twin brother, said the impact of his statement to the court was lessened with Fresques not being in the room to hear it. He had wanted to look into Fresques' eyes to see if there was any remorse.

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"I still feel that he's not remorseful," he said. "I hope one day that he's able to reach out and apologize for people, but I don't see that happening."

Young believes Fresques, by not listening to the statements from the victims' families, is not being accountable for his actions. Still, Young said he was overall pleased with the outcome and glad his family can now move forward with their lives.

Myers also addressed the judge by phone from her hospital room. She said she has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since the shooting and recently suffered a stroke.

Lubeck sentenced Fresques to life in prison without the possibility of parole for each of the three murders. Fresques also pleaded guilty to attempted murder for shooting Myers and was given an additional five-years-to-life prison term for that charge.

A co-defendent, Davis Romney Fotu, 33, pleaded guilty in 2013 to obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. He provided Fresques with a getaway vehicle after the shootings.

Contributing: Nicole Vowell

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