- A group of residents in Salt Lake City's Marmalade District say they are living in fear.
- Incidents of alleged vandalism, harassment and safety concerns tied to a neighbor are continuing.
- Salt Lake police said the case is under review; the county district attorney's office will decide whether charges will be filed.
SALT LAKE CITY — A group of residents in Salt Lake City's Marmalade District said they are living in fear as incidents of vandalism, harassment and safety concerns with their neighbor continue.
Multiple homeowners told KSL they have experienced incidents ranging from strange items left on their property to slashed tires and damage caused by a pellet gun.
Peter von Sivers and his wife, Judith, have lived in their home since 1985. They were looking forward to a quiet retirement, but that changed as tensions grew with the person living next door. Von Sivers said when the next-door neighbor first moved in, they were friendly with each other. He said she shared that she had a mental illness.
He said years later, things changed.
"It deteriorated about two years ago," von Sivers said.
The couple said the issues began with unusual items left on their front porch, sometimes accompanied by messages they interpreted as hostile. Over time, they said, the behavior escalated.
Their car tires were slashed, and words including "parasite" and "stalker" were written on their vehicle.
"Each time I had to get the towing company, take it to Ken Garff's, they fix the tire, and so on, we paid for it," von Sivers said.
More recently, they discovered a hole in a window of von Sivers' home office, which they believe was caused by a pellet gun. An electrician also found signs that a floodlight had been hit by a projectile.
"This floodlight had been shining into her kitchen window, even though we had angled it down as much as possible," von Sivers said. "She complained bitterly, screamed, actually bitterly about it shining into her window."
Other neighbors report similar incidents. Christian Castro and Kyle Betit, who live nearby, said they also experienced a projectile being fired through their window while hosting a gathering earlier this month. The woman suspected in the incident was arrested and held for several days before returning home, according to residents.
"I'm always kind of looking around, like, 'Am I going to be safe?'" Castro said.
Related:
Couple, neighbors allege pellet gun shooting part of harassment pattern in Marmalade District
A Marmalade District couple said a recent incident involving a neighbor charged with firing a pellet gun into their home is part of a broader pattern of harassment targeting LGBTQ+ residents.Another neighbor, Heidi Middleton, previously told KSL her family felt threatened when the same neighbor put up an anti-gay sign displayed toward their home.
In 2022, roommates living in a nearby house reported a gay slur had been written on the garage, vehicles were vandalized and other threats were made.
KSL is not identifying the individual accused by neighbors because police say she has a history of severe mental illness.
Neighbors said the lack of resolution has led them to invest heavily in security measures. The von Sivers installed cameras, floodlights and they're currently building fencing around their car to protect against further damage.
"We have gone through considerable expenditures just to ensure that we have basic safety," von Sivers said.
Salt Lake police said the case is under review and that the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will decide whether charges will be filed. A spokesperson for police said it's up to the district attorney's office to combine the two pellet gun incidents.
Officers have advised residents to document incidents and avoid direct interaction with the neighbor. Salt Lake police said social workers are aware of this woman, but couldn't comment further, citing patient privacy reasons.
For many in the neighborhood, uncertainty about what comes next is one of the biggest concerns.
"Who knows what happens, five months, a year from now," von Sivers said.
Kyle Betit said he is still working to repair the damage to his window at a high cost and is unsure how his case will be resolved.
"I would like for whatever court hears this to help us protect ourselves, and the neighborhood, and to help (our neighbor) to get the help she needs for everyone's sake," Betit said. "We are trying to figure out the best ways forward as a group of neighbors."
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office was closed Monday for a holiday and was unavailable for comment.
