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WEST JORDAN — A man accused of stabbing his father multiple times allegedly told police he wanted to keep going but decided he shouldn't go "overboard" by killing him.
Matthew Todd Radin, 24, of West Jordan, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, or in the alternative, aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony; possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a class A misdemeanor; and marijuana possession, a class B misdemeanor.
West Jordan police were called on a report of a domestic violence incident between Radin and his 71-year-old father at their home on March 11. Officers arrived to find the father with "blood coming from his head, face and chest," according to charging documents.
The father told police he had been in an argument with his son and "smacked him in the face," prompting the son to attack the father with a knife, the charges state. The father said he was stabbed in the head, neck and eyes.
"Medical records show (the father) was stabbed over 12 times, eight of those requiring staples or stitches," the court documents say.
When questioned by police, Radin said he was "messing with his weed cartridges" when his father began arguing with him. He claims his father "punched" his head, according to the charges.
"Radin stated he was holding a knife with his right hand and stabbed (his father) multiple times. Radin said he hated his dad so much and that 'I wanted to just keep stabbing him, and I wanted to just like murder him and I was thinking about it, but then I thought like I guess that wouldn't be self-defense and that would've been overboard,'" the charges allege. "'I really did want to kill him, but I didn't want to be in any trouble.'"
Although Radin has no significant prior criminal history, prosecutors have requested that he remain in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending trial.
Domestic violence resources
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
