SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 20, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A Blanding man who pleaded guilty to the aggravated murders of two men last seen in February of 2024 has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Charles Youngkuom Yoo was sentenced by Judge Don M. Torgerson in the Seventh District Court. The Office of the Utah Attorney General, in cooperation with the San Juan County Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case, says a news release issued by the UAG’s Office.
Yoo pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder in September 2025. As part of his plea colloquy, Yoo admitted he shot and killed William Drew Bull, 29, and Christopher Owens, 28. The two victims were last seen alive at the Maverik in Blanding, Utah, on Feb. 25, 2024.
According to the filed information, police responded to a report that Bull and Owens were missing two days after they were last seen. After leaving the Maverik station, the men went to Yoo’s house in Blanding, the news release says.
Cellphone data also demonstrated that both Bull’s and Owens’ phones remained in the immediate area around Yoo’s house until February 27. Then, the cellphones turned off, and agents could not find further data.
“On March 8, 2024, officers and a State Bureau of Investigations forensic team executed a search warrant at Yoo’s house, where they found burnt remnants of possible clothing and carpet, as well as red-brown spots on the wall and ceiling that appeared to be blood.
“Around March 22, agents recovered the bodies of Bull and Owens in Arizona, and additional investigation confirmed that both had died from gunshot wounds.”
The bullets and fragments collected from the bodies matched one of Yoo’s guns. Cellphone records showed Yoo’s phone was in the approximate area where the bodies were found on March 1.
This week, Yoo was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for each count. His sentences will run concurrently. During the sentencing hearing, the court stated that it would recommend to the Board of Pardons that Yoo never receive a parole hearing.
OAG Justice Division Director Craig Peterson and San Juan County Attorney Mitchell Maughan prosecuted the case.
