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Utah Caregiver Charged With 3 Counts of Murder in West Valley Van Deaths

Prosecutors say the conduct meets the depraved indifference standard, citing a prior abandonment warning alongside evidence he left dependent clients in a running van.

Overview

  • Isaiah Vaughn Pulu, 25, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bail after three disabled men were found dead on Feb. 6 in West Valley City.
  • Charging documents say Pulu parked a transport van in his garage and went inside to eat and watch television for hours while three clients remained inside.
  • Investigators report Ring footage shows Pulu entering his apartment at 9:09 a.m. and not returning until 1:32 p.m., contradicting his account of a shorter absence.
  • The Medical Examiner determined carbon monoxide poisoning is the most likely cause of death pending toxicology, and West Valley Fire recorded CO levels up to 600 ppm in nearby units.
  • Prosecutors cite a Jan. 6 written reprimand for client abandonment, while state regulators ordered Safe and Sound Services to pause new intakes for 30 days with mandatory retraining and increased monitoring.