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HERRIMAN — A Herriman man who allegedly knocked out his sister's boyfriend during an argument, leading to that man's death, was charged with manslaughter Tuesday.
Cole Pedersen, 24, is charged with the second-degree felony in 3rd District Court for allegedly punching 24-year-old Blake Burningham, knocking him unconscious, breaking multiple bones in his face and causing him to go into cardiac arrest on Aug. 29.
Burningham, also of Herriman, suffered a broken nose, bruised mouth and bruising on the left side of his face and head. He died from his injuries later that day at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. The state medical examiner's office determined Burningham died from blunt force trauma to his head.
Unified police said at the time that Pedersen had confronted Burningham, who was dating his sister, for reportedly assaulting her just a short time earlier.
Police said Pedersen and Burningham began to fight in the driveway of 5973 W. Moon Shadow Drive when Pedersen hit Burningham in the face twice, including once after the man had fallen to the ground. Burningham didn't throw any punches, according to charging documents.
A witness — identified by police as Burningham's brother — had to pull Pedersen away to stop the attack, charges state.
"Mr. Burningham was unconscious and never resisted or fought back," charging documents state.
Pedersen reportedly waited for police to arrive and was originally arrested for investigation of aggravated assault resulting in seriously bodily injury. However, investigators said Burningham death would potentially enhance the charges being considered.
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Her son, Blake Burningham, 24, had been in a fistfight with Cole Pedersen, 24, in front of their home, 5973 W. Moon Shadow Drive, early Saturday. Unified police say the two men pushed each other before Pedersen punched the left side of Burningham's face, then punched him again while he was on the ground.A warrant for Pedersen's arrest was issued Tuesday. An initial court date in his case has not been set.
Kim Burningham, Blake's mother, told KSL earlier this month that she wanted Pedersen to be charged with murder.
"It makes me really sad and it breaks my heart to say that. But my son is dead. My son didn't even have time to throw a punch," she said at the time.
Kim Burningham insists her son never hit his girlfriend, though she said the couple of four years had their differences like "any other couple."
Aside from traffic violations, Pedersen's only previous conviction in Utah was for underage drinking, a class B misdemeanor, in 2010.
Court records show Burningham was convicted of three counts of sexual battery in 2012 for sex with a 14-year-old girl.
