Utah Father Accused of Stabbing Registered Sex Offender 17 Times After he Made Comments About Daughter
A Wellington, Utah man is facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly stabbing another man 17 times following comments made about his daughter.
According to investigators, Thad James Gurule told police he attacked the man “in an effort to protect his daughter.” Authorities say Gurule admitted he intended to kill the victim.
Police report that Gurule had met the victim several days earlier at a local post office. Investigators believe Gurule later lured the man out of his apartment by inviting him on a walk to get food. During that walk, Gurule allegedly attacked him.
The victim survived the stabbing, though his condition has not been released.
Gurule reportedly told detectives that the victim was a registered sex offender, according to online records. Authorities have not disclosed what specific comments were made about Gurule’s daughter.
The incident came to light Monday after police were called to a residence in Wellington following reports of a man covered in blood standing on a porch. Emergency responders later found the victim a short distance away with multiple stab wounds. Doctors confirmed he had been stabbed 17 times.
Officers spoke with the victim at the hospital, where he said he did not know his attacker’s name but recognized him as someone he had recently met. Police later identified Gurule as the suspect and contacted him at his home.
While Gurule initially denied stabbing the man, he admitted to assaulting him and to leaving the weapon at the scene.
According to police reports, the victim told officers that Gurule stabbed him repeatedly and then leaned over him, warning him to think twice before making comments about his daughter, before leaving him injured on the ground.
A subsequent search of Gurule’s property reportedly uncovered suspected drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine and marijuana.
Gurule, 32, was booked into the Carbon County Jail on Wednesday. He is facing charges of attempted murder and drug-related offenses.
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