WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Oct. 29, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The West Valley City Police Department has made an arrest in the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Treyvon Stephens.
Arrested Monday was suspect Beni Vai Hautau, also 19, and believed to be an acquaintance of Stephens’. It is not yet known whether a second suspect in Stephens’ death will be located and charged.
The West Valley City Police Department announced the arrest Tuesday afternoon in a tweet, shown below:
We have made an arrest in the 10/24 stabbing death of Treyvon Stephens. Beni Hautau (10/15/2000) was located after he was arrested by
for possession of a stolen vehicle; the same vehicle the suspect used to flee the Stephens homicide. Murder charge now being added.
“An adult male is deceased. Suspect(s) outstanding,” that tweet said. “Investigation and search for suspect(s) underway.”
The next tweets came on Friday:
“Treyvon Stephens was stabbed in parking lot & ran into friend’s apartment.
“Two men fled scene. Suspects are known to Treyvon. He’d been spending time with them earlier in day. No motive identified. Anyone who saw Treyvon & who he was with, please call 801-840-4000.”
A tweet issued earlier on Friday said the department had very limited information, no arrests had been made, and a white passenger car, possibly a new model Toyota Camry, was being sought.
Hautau currently faces two charges of theft by receiving stolen property, one classified as a second-degree felony and the other as a class B misdemeanor. As of late Tuesday afternoon, the aforementioned murder charges to be added were noted in online court documents.
GoFundMe
A GoFundMe page stating money will be used to pay Stephens’ funeral costs can be viewed by clicking here.
“My 19 year old brother Treyvon (G) was unexpectedly killed Thursday night after being attacked two men who have still not been caught,” says the fundraising post, established Saturday.
“This has been very hard on my mom and family. I spent most my day yesterday making funeral arrangements with my mom. Something a mother should never have to experience. If anyone can please share this or donate anything at all helps my mom out with some of the expensive and unexpected costs to bury my brother it would be very much appreciated.”
Editor’s note: Gephardt Daily cannot ensure money donated to any fundraising site will be used in the way stated.
Earlier charges against Hautau
Hautau faces more charges than those mentioned above.
.● In a case based on a June 16, 2019, incident, Hautau was charged on suspicion of felony discharge of a firearm with injury, a second-degree felony; and with purchase, transfer, possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony. The incident happened during an altercation near 1000 South and Redwood Road, and a victim was shot in the wrist. For a news story on that case, click here.
● On April 28 of this year, he was arrested on suspicion of two counts of possession of a controlled substance, for cocaine and heroin, a class A misdemeanor. At the time of his April arrest, officers noted he had “multiple felony warrants for his arrest.”
● In a case based on an Oct. 16, 2018, incident, which was the day after Hautau’s 18th birthday, he pleaded guilty to assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony, in exchange for a second, identical charge being dismissed.
● In a case based on a Sept. 5, 2018, incident — at which time Hautau, who was a minor but was charged as an adult — he pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony amended to be a second-degree felony, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, in exchange for a firearm discharge charge being dismissed.
Juvenile records are not made available unless the suspect is charged as an adult.
Gephardt Daily will have additional information on this case as it breaks.
