LOGAN, Utah, Sept. 27, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A Smithfield man, charged with inviting his estranged father to his home and then stabbing him to death, will enter a plea in October.
Shane Alan Hallstrom, 25, on Tuesday waved a preliminary hearing, and will return for a plea hearing on Oct. 13.
Attorney Bryan Galloway did not discuss a plea deal, but did say he anticipated a plea would be worked out that would resolve the case without a trial, and that would benefit his client. Hallstrom is charged with first-degree felony murder. Conviction on that charge would mean 15 years to life in prison.
Hallstrom is charged with the April 28 murder of his father, Calvin Leon Hallstrom, who was 58. The younger Hallstrom, who lived with his mother at 380 E. 160 South in Smithfield, invited his father over for an evening together.
Police say when Calvin Hallstrom arrived, Shane Hallstrom hugged him, then stabbed him repeatedly in the neck. Shane Hallstrom’s mother called 911 and reported her son was slamming his victim’s head onto concrete, according to court documents. The elder Hallstrom was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Calvin Hallstrom’s mother told police her son had been excited when his son called, and hoped to improve their relationship. Shane Hallstrom has no prior criminal history in Utah, according to court records.
The murder came six months after the death of Shane Hallstrom’s sister, Ashley, a 26-year-old transgender woman who posted her suicide note on Facebook before walking into traffic. The note drew national attention to society’s rejection of transgender people.
Why are we not hearing about what is behind this murder – parental alienation abuse – which conditions children to hate their fathers (in most cases) after divorce. Why isn’t the media, courts or domestic violence industry interested in resolving and reducing this scourge present in perhaps 3 out of 4 utah divorces with children? It starts with false abuse allegations abuse which integrally lead to this abuse too – twin abuses of the most serious nature and consequences, worth ignoring? Contact Calvin’s mother and interview her on the book she is writing on parental alienation child abuse, perhaps the most prevalent and damaging of all forms of child abuse. Maybe she already told you? The church has also been contacted on numerous case of this over the years, with no concern voiced on this rampant abuse/crime. We can only solve these problems with truth. Lies and denial never fix problems.