KEARNS, Utah – Unified Police Department officials are investigating a homicide after a man was shot to death Saturday in Kearns, and on Sunday police identified the victim.
Reports of the incident began to come in around 6 p.m. after reports of a shooting at 5446 S. Nez Perce Drive, which is near 5080 West.
The victim was identified Sunday as 49-year-old Theodore B. Kelbach, 49, of Kearns.
"I don't know how to grasp it, I really don't, you don't come home to find your friend has been killed," said Gary Reed, who owns the home and is roommates with Kelbach.
Police said the suspect is believed to be driving a silver 4-door passenger car with a sun roof. Hoyal said witnesses provided a description of the suspect.
“We have talked to some witnesses that indicated a Polynesian male about 20-30 years old, heavy build, with dark curly hair pulled back in a pony tail wearing a red shirt was seen leaving this residence,” Hoyal said.
Hoyal did not offer further details about how the suspect may have entered the house or what kind of relationship, if any, might have existed between the suspect and victim.
Reed said he did not recognize the description of the suspect but did recognize the car. He said he's seen it parked in his own driveway but does not know the owner.
"I saw it five or ten times but never gave it a second glance, just thought they were stopping by saying hi, or dropping something off," Reed said.
Reed said he is baffled why anyone would want to kill Kelbach.
"I really don't have much of a clue, I don't think he was hanging around a lot of shady people, certainly not people that would kill him otherwise I wouldn't of had him living in my house," Reed said.
The only thing Reed does know, is that both his dogs were home at the time of the murder. One of them is still walking around with drops of blood on its fur. Reed is only left to speculate.
"This ain't a random drive by, this is someone who went into my house and killed him, they didn't shoot him at the door they shot him in my basement," Reed said.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call police at 385-468-9817.
