Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 04/26/2025 6:54:07 AM PDT by marktwain
SALT LAKE CITY — Four people involved in an apparent robbery attempt at a hotel, resulting in the shooting deaths of two of their friends, have been charged.
But no charges were filed against the alleged gunman.
"We have charged all the appropriate people with criminal charges in this case," the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office told KSL.com on Thursday.
Tiffani Marie Papach, 40, of West Jordan, and Kendra Diane Mitchell, 38, of Salt Lake City, were charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies; and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
Kevin Leroy Thrower, 57, and Christopher Michael Herschberg, 44, both of Salt Lake City, were charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call just after 12:30 a.m. on April 15 from near the Comfort Inn Downtown, 171 W. 500 South. Police arrived to find Phillip Kioa, 40, and Sofeni Heimuli, 36, had been shot to death in a room at the hotel.
Police reported the shooting appeared to be the result of a pay dispute with an escort, who then called the two deceased men for "protection."
Charging documents further explain that while the alleged shooter admitted to contacting an escort service, "when the girl arrived, he didn't like her and asked her to leave. (He) offered to pay for the girl's Uber charge, but she asked for money, $100."
The woman, Mitchell, then made a phone call and "asked for 'those boys' to come over. (The man) stated that he felt threatened and helped Mitchell out of his room," the charges state.
A short time later, Kioa and Heimuli knocked on his door, claiming they were "security." The man refused to open the door. A short time later, the front desk called him, asking him to put Mitchell's belongings that she left in the room outside the door.
"(He) stated that he opened the door, and two guys with ski masks rushed into the room. (He) stated that the first guy had a gun, put the gun in his face, pistol-whipped him, and hit him with their fists. They were telling (the man) to 'make it right,'" charging documents state.
The men took the victim's wallet and car keys.
"What do you want?" he asked them. "We'll go to the ATM right now. I don't have any cash with me."
The man told police he feared for his life.
"(He) then saw the gun on the floor and defended his life," according to the charges.
As police rounded up the group allegedly involved in the robbery attempt and questioned them, each of the four people arrested tried to obstruct the investigation, the charges state.
Papach was determined to be the person Mitchell called and got Kioa, Heimuli and Herschberg to go to the hotel with her.
"During the investigation, it was determined that Papach was the one who arranged for the two decedents to get the money Mitchell claimed she was owed. Further, Papach lied to police several times, claiming she was not involved, which was not the case. Papach orchestrated this whole thing, which resulted in the deaths of her friends," the charges state.
Mitchell was found walking with Thrower after the killings. But Thrower initially lied about the name of the woman he was with.
"Thrower lied to police to prevent the apprehension of Mitchell and then told Mitchell not to say anything," according to the charges.
Prosecutors say Mitchell "stood outside looking in the window as the assault and shooting unfolded. Mitchell then fled the scene and lied to police about who she was, so she wasn't arrested. Mitchell took a simple misunderstanding and escalated it by calling Papach to help her."
When police questioned Herschberg, he claimed he did not actively participate the attempted robbery.
"When I started to realize what the hell they were doing, that's when I walked out and I didn't want no part of it, man. I didn't want no part of it," Herschberg told police, court documents state. "I had no clue they were trying to rob, I had no … clue. …. My intention was not there to rob nobody, man. I just wasn't there with nobody. I wasn't there to hurt nobody, I wasn't there to do any harm to nobody."
However, investigators said, "While he didn't actively participate in the incident, he lied to police about not knowing anyone and not being involved. … It was learned through the investigation that Herschberg knew what the decedents were doing and what Papach was orchestrating."
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
A complicated situation with a message to escort services: Don't strong arm your "clients".
What a weird story. Wonder if the “escort” was a tranny? The escort was in room long enough to leave belongings behind.
And the “ victim “ was able to overcome 2 men and then shoot them?
Just strange
Pretty boisterous behavior for Salt Lake City. Not a friendly city for criminals, especially since constitutional carry passed. I think its funny that the media called the guy acting in self defense a “gunman”. We are all “gunmen”. Lol.
Violent Bloods Gang Member From Somalia Arrested in Utah
There might be some "truth in advertising" issues at play here as well.
They told me they were sending an Asian woman!
Uncle Leo
I wonder if Comfort Inn will rent that room out again.
Yeah, Room 214, it’s discounted because two people bled to death in that room.
No charges for ‘Capital Murder’?...........
Murder that you didn’t actually commit, but happened while you participated in a crime that resulted in death..............
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.