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MIDVALE — The man who allegedly killed his wife in front of their two children on Wednesday has been released from the hospital and is now in police custody.
John Weston Erickson, 41, was sent to Intermountain Medical Center Wednesday in serious condition, he was released and booked into Salt Lake County jail Saturday.
Erickson was arrested under suspicion of murder and two counts of child abuse. His children say he stabbed Utahna Halona, 41, to death and sustained stab wounds himself in their home near 115 W. Settlement Circle in Midvale. The couple's two children, Preslee, 7, and Weston, 11, ran to the neighbors for help. Preslee sustained minor injuries to her hand.
Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler said officers believe Preslee was trying to intervene or help Halona when she was injured.
"We had children that ran to a neighbor's house that said their dad was attacking (their) mother," said Cutler, who said the call came in about 6 p.m. "When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke to the children, and found out that both parents were still inside the house."
Officials are still investigating what led to the incident. Erickson no criminal history in Utah besides a few traffic tickets, according to court records
Contributing: Pat Reavy and Amy Donaldson, KSL
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
