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WEST VALLEY CITY — The family of a man found shot to death two weeks ago is increasing the reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted by West Valley police and U.S. marshals.
Farrell Bartschi, 82, of West Valley City, was shot and killed Oct. 4 in front of a residence near 3800 South and 4200 West.
Noel Munoz Lopez, 34, of Kearns, has been named as a person of interest in the case by police. Detectives believe Lopez was in the area at the time of the shooting and has "an association" with the owners of the home that Bartschi was found in front of. Bartschi had no known association with either the residents of the home or Lopez.
Lopez was convicted in 2007 of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated assault, according to court records. In that case, Lopez shot another man outside a Salt Lake 7-Eleven store, leaving the victim paralyzed. He was sentenced to four consecutive terms of two to 20 years in the Utah State Prison.
Lopez was paroled in March. But he has since allegedly violated his parole and is wanted by marshals for parole violation, though court records do not say what that violation was.
On Oct. 8, the U.S. Marshal's Service announced a $2,000 reward for information leading to Lopez's arrest. Bartschi's family announced Thursday they are adding an additional $2,000 to that pot, bringing it to $4,000.
Lopez is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 210 pounds, and is bald with a black beard and mustache, according to police. Anyone with information on Lopez is asked to call police at 801-840-4000.
