‘Something to be taken seriously’: Lawmaker says Utah should fund strangulation exams

SALT LAKE CITY — In the wake of the shooting in Tremonton that claimed the lives of two police officers and wounded a deputy and K9, the connection between domestic violence and homicide is top of mind.

When Moab police officers spoke with Gabby Petito in 2021, she was in a dangerous situation. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, later strangled and killed her.

In 2020, 14-year-old Macie Haight told police her dad, Michael Haight, had put his hands around her neck and she feared for her life. In January 2023, he murdered his wife, their 5 children and his mother-in-law before taking his own life.

A week ago, investigators said Ryan Michael Bate shot and killed Tremonton Police Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada while they were responding to a domestic violence call. A woman had previously told police Bate grabbed her by the throat multiple times.

These are just a few high-profile homicide cases in which the suspects are men accused of strangling their loved ones. Experts and advocates frequently warn strangulation is a top predictor of homicide.

“Strangulation is really homicidal ideation,” said Utah Rep. Cheryl Acton, R-West Jordan. “It’s a real signal that they’re thinking about killing the person.” 

Documenting strangulation can help prosecute the most violent offenders and save lives, and strangulation exams arm police and prosecutors with evidence to do that.

“Without hard evidence, it’s very difficult for prosecutors to prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence,” said Acton.

But the Utah Legislature chose not to renew funding for strangulation exams this year, which Acton said shocked her.

“It was funded initially in our initial budget request at the beginning of session through our Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee,” she explained, “But then when revenue projections fell short, it was cut.”

Twice in previous years, the Legislature had allocated $200,000 to the program, and according to Acton, the funds were used successfully to prosecute offenders. This year, Acton had requested $260,000 for strangulation exams, which still would not have covered the full need of the program. Without funding, the cost of exams falls to police agencies and victims or the exams don’t happen at all.

According to the Utah Domestic Violent Coalition, the full cost of the program annually is $429,000. After the Legislature chose not to fund the program this year, the organization was able to secure $330,000 in federal and grant funding.

Craig Kingsbury, a retired police chief in Idaho, studied violence against police officers in his own department, finding a link to prior incidents of domestic violence, including strangulation.

“I hope one of your legislators will bring that forward again in the next session,” he said. “And I would encourage the Utah legislators to look at funding that.”

In response to an interview request from KSL, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz released a joint statement, writing in part, “… the legislature has increased funding for domestic violence by nearly 150% in the past five years. Singling out one small pilot program is a disingenuous look at the legislature’s ongoing commitment to addressing domestic violence. Real progress comes when legislators, law enforcement, service providers, and community organizations work together to build a safer future for Utah families.”

Lawmakers also passed legislation making it a felony to strangle someone in the presence of a minor this year. And just last week, the state unveiled a new lethality assessment protocol dashboard as a response to domestic violence.

Still, Acton said she hopes to see funding for strangulation exams become a regular feature of Utah’s state budget and she will be requesting that funding again next year.

“Whatever we can do to prevent domestic violence, we should do,” she said.