UT - 3 disabled men die in van while caretaker leaves them to go watch anime - West Valley City, 6 Feb 2026

[Clearsky]

Caregiver left disabled men in running van while he ate, watched anime, murder charges say

A caregiver transporting three disabled men who allegedly left them in running van while he ate and watched TV was charged Friday with three counts of murder.

www.ksl.com

Isaiah Vaughn Pulu, 25, of West Valley City, is charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, for each of the deaths of Colton Warren Moser, 25, Mosa'ati Moa, 22, and 39-year-old Tim Jones. All three were residents at different group homes in West Valley City, according to police.

 

[airportwoman]

What a horrible story! You just know he did this on purpose, and it needs to be a bigger story.

 

[wendybtn]

I just wonder if this was something he did on an ongoing basis. I bet he forgot to keep the garage door open this time.

 

[sunspun]

Doesn't murder require intent here? Intent seems hard to prove in this case, imo. But this man definitely must face charges. A commenter on that article says negligent homicide carries a one year sentence in UT. No idea if that's correct, but if so, that is not enough, imo. Isn't there another charge that would apply, that takes into account no intent, but also considers the seriousness and reckless disregard for human life that he showed these 3 men?

Also, I think carbon monoxide could still be fatal in a running car in a garage, even with the garage door open.

But even if they hadn't died, how was he going to explain bringing all 3 of them back with soiled clothing? This "caretaker" was certainly in the wrong job. Hopefully, his punishment will be severe enough that he won't be able to work in society again.

 

[wendybtn]

Doesn't murder require intent here? Intent seems hard to prove in this case, imo. But this man definitely must face charges. A commenter on that article says negligent homicide carries a one year sentence in UT. No idea if that's correct, but if so, that is not enough, imo. Isn't there another charge that would apply, that takes into account no intent, but also considers the seriousness and reckless disregard for human life that he showed these 3 men?

Also, I think carbon monoxide could still be fatal in a running car in a garage, even with the garage door open.

But even if they hadn't died, how was he going to explain bringing all 3 of them back with soiled clothing? This "caretaker" was certainly in the wrong job. Hopefully, his punishment will be severe enough that he won't be able to work in society again.

You wouldn't believe how many 'caretakers' are in the wrong job.

 

[airportwoman]

Did anyone actually read the story? He left them in there for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.

 

[wendybtn]

Did anyone actually read the story? He left them in there for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.

Yes, I read the story.

 

[sunspun]

Did anyone actually read the story? He left them in there for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.

Well, yes. For one thing, that's why in my post I asked, how was he planning to explain bringing back all 3 men with soiled clothing, because of how long he had left them out there. So yep, I saw that part of the story, why would you ask??

 

[Lisbeth_S]

C'mon people, he just wanted to eat and watch his show....it's not his fault if those three people were in the way of his plans! *end-of-sarcasm*

This story makes me so angry!!

This guy had zero regard for those people's life, and the most infuriating thing is that he still seems to have zero insight on the gravity what he did. His needs come first, at the cost of three lives. And he's still trying to justify what he did.

Hope he will get what he deserves.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

In January, he was reprimanded for leaving clients alone in a van for 30 minutes, according to the above article. His excuses are ridiculous.

 

[songbrd]

Utah agency sanctions driver's employer after 3 carbon monoxide deaths - East Idaho News

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KSL) — The state of Utah has sanctioned the employer of a man accused of leaving three disabled men in a running vehicle in a garage, resulting in their deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning on Friday. Isaiah Vaughn Pulu, 25, who works for a company that provides...

www.eastidahonews.com

 

[songbrd]

Man charged in carbon monoxide deaths of 3 men makes first court appearance

A 25-year-old care provider in West Valley City is facing three charges for murder following an investigation into the carbon monoxide deaths of three disabled men.

www.fox13now.com

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The man facing multiple murder charges in the carbon monoxide deaths of three disabled men in West Valley City made his first court appearance Thursday.

During Isaiah Vaughn Pulu's brief appearance, the judge reaffirmed that the 25-year-old should be held without bail and scheduled an in-person detention hearing for February 27.

 

[sunspun]

Man charged in carbon monoxide deaths of 3 men makes first court appearance

A 25-year-old care provider in West Valley City is facing three charges for murder following an investigation into the carbon monoxide deaths of three disabled men.

www.fox13now.com

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The man facing multiple murder charges in the carbon monoxide deaths of three disabled men in West Valley City made his first court appearance Thursday.

During Isaiah Vaughn Pulu's brief appearance, the judge reaffirmed that the 25-year-old should be held without bail and scheduled an in-person detention hearing for February 27.

From the article above: "West Valley Fire used monitors and showed the carbon monoxide levels in the apartments above the garage got to has high as 600 parts per million. Anything above 70 parts per million is considered dangerous."

So not only did he cause these 3 men to die, but he also could have killed more innocent people who were in the apartments above the garage.