Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two people allegedly involved in the brutal beating of a teen boy, and then posting the assault on social media, are now facing criminal charges.
Christian Thomas Hekking, 23, of West Valley City, and Mael Metzli Keith, 18, of Salt Lake City, were charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; and aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, a second-degree felony. The charges include gang enhancement penalties, if convicted. Keith was also charged with obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor.
Two others, both 15, are listed as co-defendants. As of Wednesday they had not been charged as adults. Police say three 15-year-olds, two boys and a girl, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The investigation began on Feb. 5 when a 15-year-old boy was brought to St. Mark's Hospital with "multiple injuries to his face, left side of his head, and … marks on his back. (The boy) also had gray spray paint all over his body and clothing," according to charging documents.
The next day, police were notified Keith had allegedly told another person she had killed someone, the charges state. She is accused of making statements such as, "We beat and tortured someone to death," "We had to put him to sleep" and "You couldn't recognize him," according to the charges.
Another person told police of a video on Keith's Instagram account showing her beating the teen, the charges state. There were also "videos of her killing her cat and cutting her arms."
Police located three videos on social media and were later able to identify another person in the recordings as Hekking.
In one video, a boy "begins shaking an object of what appears to be a can of aerosol spray paint in his left hand and a torch lighter in his right hand. A male voice can be heard, 'Light him on fire,'" the charges state. "Male No. 1 then states, 'This is gonna hurt a little bit ... all right, are you ready?' and proceeds to walk over to (the victim)."
The victim is in a fetal position and is trying to shield himself from the flames by holding up a trash can, according to the charges. Police describe the teen as "screaming in pain" as the male with the aerosol can laughs. The teen has flames directed at him two more times before "the camera pans back to show Male No. 1 holding the butane torch and laughing about the incident," the charges state.
A second video shows the victim lying on his back, apparently unconscious, while one of the assailants appears to be checking for a pulse, according to the charges. Another of the male attackers then pours a beer on the victim while saying, "Wake up, fool." Police say the video shows "blood is visibly coming out of his mouth."
A third video shows Keith striking the victim 27 times, the charges state. An officer who was at the hospital noted the teen's "eyes were swollen to the point that (he) could hardly see out of them. (He) had bruises, minor cuts, and abrasions over his entire torso. (He) had cuts and abrasions on his forearms and hands, bruising on his left arm, and abrasions on his right leg," the charges state.
Keith allegedly told police the victim, at one point, tried to run away, but "was brought back to be assaulted further." Investigators say at least six individuals were observed in the videos.
Prosecutors have requested Hekking and Keith be held in the Salt Lake County jail without the possibility of posting bail pending trial.
