PROVO, Utah, July 27, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Provo man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly tried to kill his teenage girlfriend because he thought she cheated on him.
A probable cause statement from Utah County said Andrew Rice, 19, is facing charges including attempted murder, a second-degree felony, and kidnapping, also a second-degree felony.
An officer was dispatched to an address in Provo Thursday evening, the statement said, on a report of a domestic violence incident.
“The victim had gone to a neighbor’s home and reported that her boyfriend, Andrew Rice, had attempted to kill her,” the statement said. “She reported that her ribs hurt and she thought her arm may be broken. She also reported that her neck hurt as Rice had choked her.”
She told officials she and Rice have been living together in the same house for approximately six months.
The victim, who is 17, told police that Rice had been drinking and using marijuana. She stated that Rice became intoxicated and then began accusing her of cheating on him. She said she was also intoxicated at the time of the argument as Rice had provided her with two shots of Everclear alcohol.
“The victim stated she went upstairs in the kitchen and was getting a glass of water when Rice came up and began grabbing at her and throwing her around the kitchen due to him being mad at her for allegedly cheating,” the statement said. “The victim stated she attempted running out the back door to get away from Rice as he was assaulting her, but Rice grabbed onto her to prevent her from leaving. Rice was holding onto to the victim, so she punched him once in the face to get away. The punch was enough for her to get away and she ran to the backyard and attempted to jump the fence but was unable to.”
The victim reported that Rice followed her into the backyard and grabbed her as she was climbing over the fence, pulling her back into the yard where he began hitting her, the statement said. The victim was able to get away and ran back inside in the residence in order to escape out of the front door. Rice allegedly followed her to the front door and said, “I’m going to kill you,” the statement said.
Rice then allegedly shoved the victim down the stairs away from the front door where she landed on the floor and lost consciousness. When she awakened Rice began attacking her again, the statement said.
“During this struggle, Rice grabbed the victim by the throat with one hand and began choking her,” the statement said. “Rice again told the victim that he was going to kill her as he began choking her. At this point, the victim again lost consciousness from Rice restricting her airway.”
The victim regained consciousness and was able to fight Rice off her, and ran out the front door where she began screaming, the statement said. The complainant heard her yelling, ushered her inside his home, and called police.
The victim reported that at some point, she had kicked Rice in the face to get him off of her as she was fighting back.
“I observed the victim’s injuries and saw visible marks on her neck consistent with being choked,” the arresting officer wrote. “She had blood all over her face and shirt. There was a large lump on her right forearm, and she complained of rib pain from being struck.”
The victim had a fresh bite mark on her back left side and visible bruises on her arms and legs.
“After gathering statements from the victim, I and other officers approached the suspect’s home,” the arresting officer wrote. “I knocked loudly on the door multiple times and no one came to the door. After no answers to my knocking, I determined that I needed to enter to check welfare of anyone that may be inside as the couple reportedly had roommates. I pushed on the door, which I found to be blocked by something heavy.”
It then became clear that the door was blocked by Rice’s unconscious body, and his face was covered in blood.
“I could see that Rice was breathing,” the statement said. “I took Rice into custody and called for another ambulance to check on him.”
While clearing the home, officers observed large amounts of drug paraphernalia in plain view. A search warrant was issued and among the items found in Rice’s room were three bottles of alcohol; one empty bottle of vodka, and two semi-full opened bottles of Everclear, three pipes consistent with marijuana use, one grinder and an empty vape cartridge labeled as a cannabis product, one small baggie of marijuana plant seeds, one large sword and two throwing knives.
After Rice was given medical attention, he was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with officers.
“Rice was extremely intoxicated and kept saying, ‘I just love her too much’ when I asked him what had happened,” the statement said. “I asked Rice if he had hurt the victim and he stated that he had. Rice kept making a finger gun and gun noises while pointing his fingers at his head and told me that he just wanted to die. Rice told me and other officers multiple times just to kill him.”
Rice was told that he was under arrest for domestic violence assault and placed inside a police vehicle.
“Rice began bashing his head into my cage of my police vehicle and had to be told to stop,” the statement said.
Rice blew a measurable amount of .162 on a Preliminary Breath Tester at the hospital. While in the hospital room, Rice allegedly spit at on an off-duty Adult Probation and Parole Agent who was riding along with one of the Provo officers.
Rice told another officer at the hospital: “She cheated on me, that’s why I hurt her.”
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the victim is on National Crime Information Center listed runaway. She was released to a family member after the incident.
Rice is also charged with selling, offering or furnishing alcohol to a minor, a class A misdemeanor, unlawful possession, purchase or transfer of a dangerous weapon, a class A misdemeanor, unlawfully providing shelter to a runaway, a class B misdemeanor, measurable alcohol concentration in a minor, a class B misdemeanor, possession of a controlled substance, a class B misdemeanor, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor, interference with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor, propelling a bodily substance, a class B misdemeanor and assault, a class B misdemeanor.
Rice is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail.
