'A legend and a hero': Family of murdered punk rock promoter shares grief at sentencing

SALT LAKE CITY — Two weeks after their wedding, Allyson Goddard said she went to sleep assuming her husband would return home late. Instead, she received a call from officers with a homicide unit.

Trevor Francis Bellaccomo, 34, was stabbed nine times outside a concert venue on May 14, 2022. Police found him bleeding and unresponsive in a nearby Arby's parking lot at 1650 S. State. A pool of blood was found near a parking lot that was being used as an outdoor concert venue for a punk rock show — a venue promoted by Bellaccomo.

Before her husband's death, Goddard said she was happy and couldn't have been more excited about their future — with a planned trip to introduce him to her extended family in Japan, a clothing business the two ran together, and plans to keep punk rock alive, advocate for animals and have a family.

She said Kevin Tommy Neal, 38, killed her husband because of rumors spread around by his former girlfriends. She said people don't think about the consequences of cyberbullying and that Neal was spreading rumors and hate about her husband — but she doesn't know if they had ever even met before that night.

Goddard said her new husband made her feel like a goddess and made her want to have a family. She called him "a legend and a hero." Since he has been gone, she said nothing makes sense and she is broken.

Third District Judge James Blanch sentenced Neal, of Salt Lake City, on Tuesday to a term of 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison and told Bellaccomo's family that it is a life sentence, the lower limit just recognizes the minimum time spent before parole is considered. He said it is "impossible" to give a just sentence in a murder case.

"It's a tremendous loss when something like this happens, and it's frustrating that I can't impose a sentence that would bring him back," the judge said.

Blanch told Neal that even if such rumors about Bellaccomo were true, it wasn't Neal's place to bring vengeance.

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Utah concert promoter charged with murder in stabbing death of man outside venue

A man who witnesses say was a concert promoter was charged Wednesday with murder and accused of stabbing a man nine times outside a concert venue in downtown Salt Lake City.

Bellaccomo's mother, Shauna Scott-Bellaccomo, said he was her "tall son" who would help her replace lightbulbs, answer the phone and drive her to medical appointments or to the airport. She said he talked to his grandma daily and was a shining light in their family.

"He was my son that was always there. He cared deeply about our family. He was very loyal to friends," she said.

Now, Scott-Bellaccomo said the family is robbed of future grandchildren and sharing happiness.

"Trevor leaves so much behind that can't ever be replaced," she said.

Scott-Bellaccomo said her son followed his dreams; he started a band at age 12 and wrote his own music.

She said he was cyber-bullied during the last four years before his murder, which she said was senseless and cowardly. She said Neal did not give medical aid or call for help after the stabbing, but returned to the concert wearing a shirt with her son's blood on it.

The mother said she understands it is ultimately up to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole to decide how long Neal remains behind bars, but said the only justice that could be given in this case is Neal spending the rest of his life in prison.

Bryson Bellaccomo told the judge he had just obtained a doctorate and was working toward another doctorate degree but had to take a sabbatical after his brother's death. He said his brother's loss "cast a shadow" over his research, which is aimed at reducing violence.

"The goals I had set for myself … now seem distant and unattainable," he said.

Defense attorney Darwin Overson said the jury reached a verdict and the statute is clear for what the sentence should be. He said only a few words. Neal chose not to speak.

A jury found Neal guilty on Dec. 6, 2023, of murder, a first-degree felony, and not guilty of obstructing justice, a class A misdemeanor, after a three-day trial. The jury deliberated for about three and a half hours.

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