FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County — A Uintah County man is now facing a federal charge accusing him of beating his mother to death because she wouldn't let him use her car.
Philip Bernard Weston, who also goes by Philip Bernard Mahpiya-Wicasta, 52, of Fort Duchesne, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 8 on a charge of murder in the second degree while within Indian Country. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Weston "allegedly beat his elderly mother to death after she would not let him use her car," acting U.S. Attorney for Utah Felice John Viti announced in a written statement Tuesday.
The mother's name has not been released.
Prior to her death, the woman had contacted "an out-of-state relative on her tablet via social media asking for help," according to prosecutors. Police were then notified and responded to the residence.
"Weston answered the door and allegedly stated the victim was there and fine," Viti said. "However, the officer could see the victim on the ground with a large amount of blood around her. Weston was immediately taken into custody."
The woman was taken to a hospital in Roosevelt and was able to give statements through a sign language interpreter about the incident before she was transported to a trauma center in Salt Lake City, where she died from her injuries, according to prosecutors.
