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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman who was severely beaten in Duchesne County about three weeks ago has died as a result of her injuries.
Because of that, five people once charged with attempted murder are now charged with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony.
Thomas Neil Tuinman, 35; Michael Wallace Tuinman, 30; Samantha Tuinman, 30; Stephanie Ann Tuinman, 33; and Byron Rashad Thompson, 29; are also charged in 8th District Court with aggravated assault and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies.
A fifth member of the Tuinman family was also charged on Thursday. Nicole Marie Tuinman, 27, is charged with retaliation against a witness, a third-degree felony.
On Wednesday, while Duchesne County sheriff's deputies were interviewing a witness as part of their homicide investigation, she revealed that "the homicide suspect's wife, Nicole Tuinman, confronted (her and) … told her that if she talked about what her husband had done," she would assault the woman and her juvenile son, according to a Duchesne County Jail report.
The confrontation allegedly happened in the parking lot of Taco Time, 500 W. 200 North in Roosevelt, on Monday, the day after Sherry Melo died, the report states.
Sheriff's deputies were originally called on April 6 to 2725 W. 2500 South in the Vonsville area near Roosevelt. Five people, including four members of the same family, attacked Melo with a baseball bat and severely beat her husband, according to a police report.
"When I arrived, I saw a woman sitting on the porch next door to this address surrounded by a few other people and she was screaming in pain," according to the report from the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office.
Melo, who was bleeding from her head, nose and mouth, said that "somebody had broken their front door and beat them up," the report states.
Next door, Rick Hoke was found bleeding from his head, nose and mouth, and had other cuts and bruises on his body, according to police.
"He said that somebody had broken his front door and chased him and his wife outside and then hit and kicked him in the backyard," the report states. The man reported he had been beaten "with pieces of wood and other objects from his backyard and had also been punched and kicked while he was on the ground behind his house."
Melo said one of her alleged attackers "hit her with a bat in the head."
Doctors discovered the woman had bleeding on her brain. She was flown by medical helicopter to another hospital with "extensive injuries," the report states.
According to her obituary, Melo, 51, of Roosevelt, died April 22, at a Provo hospital.
"She was a loving and caring, a real people person, that wanted to make sure others had what they needed even if it was the shirt off her own back, so to speak. She was generally cheerful, happy and smiling; she was a good neighbor. She loved family gatherings, birthdays, barbeques, camping, 4-wheeling, fishing, Harley and dirt-bike motorcycling, being in the outdoors and loved coffee," the obituary says.
Melo had been with Hoke for 13 years, according to her family. She is survived by three daughters and a son. Melo was preceded in death by her first husband.
A funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
The amended charges were filed on Monday. A motive for the attack has not been released. The next court hearing is scheduled for next Monday.
Thomas and Samantha Tuinman are husband and wife. Thomas and Stephanie Tuinman are siblings. Michael Tuinman is a cousin. Byron Thompson and Stephanie Tuinman are dating, according to police.
