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MIDVALE -- Police in Midvale have charged three more members of a white supremacy gang in connection with a home invasion that turned deadly.
A total of three gang members are in custody, including their matriarchal leader; two are still at large.
"Debra Holland, she's believed to giving instructions to other gang members on what to do, what to say and who to attack," said Midvale police Detecitve John Salazar.
Salazar says this is turning out to an incredible case with some very unusual elements. Because of the involvement of the white supremacy gang, they assigned extra detectives to make sure they know what happened.
It began at the Spring of Country Woods Apartment complex at 6995 S. 1030 East at about 1:30 a.m. on May 5. A gang of six, allegedly led by 53-year-old Debra Holland, invaded an apartment and began robbing six other people. One of the victims snatched a gun away and killed one of the intruders, later identified as Blake Anderson.
Now detectives say the invaders were all members of a white supremacy gang called SAC, the Soldiers of Aryan Culture.
Robert King and Richard Davis were hit with 20 felony counts Thursday. They were already in custody on other charges.
"At first, we thought it was a random act of violence. We know now that it was it was not a random act of violence. It was a designed retaliation and an act to get property back from a previous robbery, which occurred about two weeks prior to this home invasion," Salazar said.
The perpetrators of that earlier robbery were either in the apartment or associated with its occupants. They allegedly made the mistake of robbing a girlfriend of an SAC member. That earlier robbery is still under investigation.
A fourth SAC member, Mark Roberts, is still at large. He was charged Thursday as well. A fifth, unidentified member is also still at large.
Holland has already been charged with 20 felony counts. Police say though she led the attack, they say she didn't hold a formal leadership position in the gang.
"I believe, because of her age, they looked up to her," Salazar said.
Midvale Detective Bruce Hunington said, "SAC and several Tongan gangs consider her to be the mother of their gangs, not necessarily the leader, but the mother."
Holland's involvement with both the Tongan gangs and the a white supremacy gang may seem contradictory, but police have no explanation for it.
The Soldiers of Aryan Culture are a much broader movement, in and out of prisons. They've had a low profile in Midvale until now.
E-mail: jhollenhorst@ksl.com
