SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 19, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Details have been released in the case of a Salt Lake City man charged with three counts of aggravated murder stemming from crimes believed to have transpired in November of 2014.
Charged in the case is William Christopher, 53, who was booked into the Salt Lake County jail system on Friday, and is being held in lieu of paying $3 million cash-only bail.
Christopher is charged in the disappearance and suspected deaths of Danny Kiko Gallegos, 35; Braden Parker Emerson, 23; and Levi Joseph Collins, 34.
In all, Christopher was charged with:
- Three counts of criminal homicide — aggravated murder, a first-degree felony
- Aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony
- Three counts of abuse or desecration of a human body, a third-degree felony
- Purchase, transfer, possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony
Christopher’s probable cause statement says that, based on testimony and evidence, prosecutors believe that on or about Nov. 1, 2014, Gallegos and his dog were picked up from his home by by Collins and Emerson. The home’s video surveillance system showed Gallegos leaving in his 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, which was pulling an ATV.
Gallegos and Collins had told family friends they were going to the Bountiful area to ride the ATV, and would return at about 5 p.m. the same day, the statement says.
Police investigating the disappearance of Gallegos later learned that his apartment was rented in the name of a man identified as J.C. — who has provided information to police as a part of a deal seeking immunity from prosecution.
Family members of Gallegos also told police that he had been scheduled to meet with J.C. on Nov. 1 to receive $200,000, to be used to purchase a house in J.C.’s name.
Police also learned that J.C. asked to borrow a 2003 Ford F250 pickup from an acquaintance, identified in court papers as L.C., and when J.C. returned the truck on Nov. 3, 2014, he suggested that L.C. “clean the bed of the truck with bleach, which he refused to do,” the probable cause statement says.
“J.C. also told L.C. that he ‘helped cover up a murder,’ and reiterated that L.C. needed to clean the bed of the truck with bleach,” the probable cause statement says.
A swab of a stain in the pickup tested positive for Emerson’s DNA. In addition, a swab of a stain in L.C. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro — which J.C. had borrowed and used for several months — tested positive for the DNA of Collins.
In addition, an analysis of the missing men’s phones indicates they were at or near a retail business owned by J.C. after leaving the home of Gallegos.
J.C., accompanied by his attorney, told police that when Gallegos arrived at his retail business, Richard Christopher shot and killed him, then went outside to the Tahoe, containing Emerson and Collins, and shot them dead.
The statement also notes that in 2007, Christopher was convicted of felony domestic violence — assault, so was prohibited from lawfully possessing firearm. When police searched a motorhome Christopher purchased after the men’s disappearance, the statement says that officers found guns, ammunition, $60,000 in cash and “unique jewelry” known to belong to Gallegos.
J.C. told police he helped formulate a plan to disposed of all three bodies, and he borrowed the truck from L.C. for the job. J.C. said he and Christopher transported the bodies to Utah County to a crematorium for large animals, a business where Christopher used to be employed.
The men then drove L.C.’s red pickup and Camaro to Utah County to the crematorium, and afterward, took remaining evidence to a campground for burning, informant J.C. told police.
“Police later found remnants of cell phones, keys and small human bones in the campsite in which J.C. said that the activities had taken place,” the probable cause statement says.
On Nov. 3 of 2014, the statement says, the Tahoe belonging to Gallegos was found, abandoned, with his dog inside.
“There has no indication of ‘life activity’ by Gallegos, Collins or Emerson since Nov. 1, 2014,” the probable cause statement says. “The friends and families of Gallegos, Collins and Emerson have not had any contact with the men for over four years. Location tracking analysis of the electronic devices belonging to the victims and suspects in this case indicate the parties were together at the retail business where Gallegos was killed and the RV location where Collins and Emerson were killed.
“It was at this time the victims’ digital footprints stopped, and they were no longer in communication with anyone.”
Collins’ mother, Judy, spoke Friday at a news conference called by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to announce Christopher’s arrest.
“It’s been a long four years, two months and 17 days,” she said. “But I want to give kudos to all these guys up here for doing everything possible that they could.”
