Estimated read time: 1-2 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Sam Penrod ReportingLehi Police are investigating what appears to be a homicide tonight. A man is dead from what police are calling a drug deal gone bad.
The victim is a 43-year old man, and police are awaiting autopsy results to find out cause of death. But it all seems suspicious, so for now police are classifying it as a homicide.
This afternoon, paramedics were called to the home in Lehi on the report that a man had collapsed. They found the victim outside, in bad shape. He was taken to American Fork hospital where he was pronounced dead.
It seems the victim was involved in some kind of physical fight and that he sustained serious injuries. Police believe that the fight was over drugs.
Sgt. Jeff Swenson, Lehi Police Dept.: “I will tell you it was drug related. We’ve been to this house several times for drug problems.”
Police detained five people who were at the scene. They were all questioned through the afternoon, but tonight all of them have been released, while police continue their investigation.
The victim has been identified as 43-year old Kenneth Ward. Police say he has an extensive criminal record; he has been booked into the Utah County jail at least six times in the last year.
Police expect to have initial reports on the autopsy tomorrow, and depending on the outcome, will be able to determine if the death is a homicide and if charges will be pursued.
