UT - 3 males charged with following 17-year old girl in vehicle for miles before shooting her to death - CEDAR CITY 1/17/25

[Knox]

Parents share why 'Fly High' was perfect motto for Iron County teen killed in drive-by shooting

There's a memorial at the site where Iron County deputies say KayLee Dutton's pickup crashed through a fence after she was shot 12 times.

www.fox13now.com

 

[Knox]

 

[mickey2942]

Fate. Any one of those young men, could have been home, studying, or at work, or just watching tv, instead of driving around with a friend, getting high, and getting involved in a shooting.

 

[LadyL]

I don't believe the shooter and his friends' account. The vehicle in the lead is the stalkee, the vehicle at the rear is the stalker. If you think you're being stalked by people in the vehicle in front of you, you're either nuts, or on drugs, or are lying. For heaven's sake, just turn around and go the other way.

previous to that they thought her truck had followed them to the same apartment complex (I think is what they were referring to)

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

From my observations of this case, I am unable to include the possible or apparent use of drugs, marijuana, or even alcohol as a factor or contributing factor. Sorry, no sympathy for these four. None.

Many individuals use such materials, recreationally, or abuse them even to a point of paranoia, addiction, or worse. But they don’t rise to doing what these four are accused of having done.

Including such topics in a conversation of this case IMO only tends to distract from the horrid acts and gives only ‘excuses’ or ‘reasons’. Neither is valid nor relevant IMO.

It is apparent they had no reason to have a vehicle, a firearm, or anything else for that matter. How they got the weapons is critical. Who owned them? Who owned the vehicle they were in? Did they have phones or electronic devices? What do they reveal? Were they tampered with to conceal incriminating evidence?

A young lady is now gone, apparently at their hand. And IIUC an individual accompanying her is like forever traumatized.

As some would contend…… these four IMO belong under the next jail being built in their territory. Their conduct and behavior is reprehensible. MOO

 

[mickey2942]

I lived in Cedar City, UT for a few years. Ironically, I was working on a research project regarding crime in Cedar City, and residents perception of safety. The paper is buried somewhere at Southern Utah State University. It would be interesting for some student to unearth that, and do the same survey now, 40 years later.

 

[acutename]

From my observations of this case, I am unable to include the possible or apparent use of drugs, marijuana, or even alcohol as a factor or contributing factor. Sorry, no sympathy for these four. None.

Many individuals use such materials, recreationally, or abuse them even to a point of paranoia, addiction, or worse. But they don’t rise to doing what these four are accused of having done.

Including such topics in a conversation of this case IMO only tends to distract from the horrid acts and gives only ‘excuses’ or ‘reasons’. Neither is valid nor relevant IMO.

It is apparent they had no reason to have a vehicle, a firearm, or anything else for that matter. How they got the weapons is critical. Who owned them? Who owned the vehicle they were in? Did they have phones or electronic devices? What do they reveal? Were they tampered with to conceal incriminating evidence?

A young lady is now gone, apparently at their hand. And IIUC an individual accompanying her is like forever traumatized.

As some would contend…… these four IMO belong under the next jail being built in their territory. Their conduct and behavior is reprehensible. MOO

One of the articles IDs the gun owner- he lent the gun to the shooter but it sounds to me as if only two of them went after the girls.

"Police identified Hess-Witucki as the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the shooting. According to a police affidavit, he admitted to driving the vehicle while Galloway, seated in the front passenger seat, fired the shots that killed Dutton....

Sorber-Petri admitted to allowing Hess-Witucki and Galloway to take his firearm, fully aware it would be used to confront the perceived “stalker.” Felipe, meanwhile, remained at the residence but was aware of the pursuit and the planned confrontation, according to the affidavit."

Suspects arrested in shooting and killing of 17-year-old KayLee Dutton, identified

Michael Hess-Witucki is responsible for Kaylees murder. He fired the weapon 12 times.

channel2now.com

so it sounds like they believed that they were shooting rival gang members or investigators or something like that IMO, and some had criminal records that prohibited them from having fire arms

 

[acutename]

Fate. Any one of those young men, could have been home, studying, or at work, or just watching tv, instead of driving around with a friend, getting high, and getting involved in a shooting.

curious to see if they have real jobs

 

[Chimera]

Rest in gentle peace, Kaylee !
My utmost condolences to her grieving loved ones.... she'd barely begun to live her life !
Thinking about the passenger who survived, they have a very long and tough road ahead of them.
I'm so sorry.

Hoping the one who stole her from her family never sees a day of freedom again; and the others receive punishments appropriate to their offenses.

 

[tlcya]

At around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, Hess-Witucki and Galloway allegedly pursued the victim’s vehicle on the belief that she had been stalking them in their neighborhood. It was later revealed that the victim’s vehicle had been in the same townhome complex, but for unrelated reasons.

In Hess-Witucki’s vehicle, the suspects pursued the victim to a remote location, police said. It was at this location that Galloway fired twelve rounds at the victim from Hess-Witucki’s vehicle, shooting her multiple times and endangering the life of another juvenile in the victim’s passenger seat.
https://www.abc4.com/news/southern-...ar-old-girl-chased-down-killed-in-cedar-city/

So this brain trust of testosterone saw a truck at a complex of townhomes, where multiple residents and presumably their guests might be present at any point during the day or evening. And in their minds they immediately leap to "this vehicle and its occupant are here to stalk us" because ? How important they all must have been in their own minds to assume a stray vehicle they don't recognize in a populated area was there because of them. So of course if they are being stalked by someone who doesn't mean them well, the obvious choice is to follow that vehicle when it leaves the area and once it is in a not populated area murder the truck's occupants, or at least one of them.

Given the drugs located as a result of the search warrants, I'm gonna guess these useless young men fancied themselves big time drug dealers and were probably ever on the lookout for someone who might attempt to rob them of said drugs or drug proceeds. amped up on shrooms, carrying a gun and looking to prove how manly and important they were. And now a girl is dead. For driving by.

toss the key.

 

[MissMalowe]

Just found this thread and haven't read much only saw a few photos of the victim and the 4 perps but where did the "She was chasing/stalking them" story come from? A story the defense attorney decided to spin PRIOR to getting a look at his clients or something?

 

[Chimera]

Just found this thread and haven't read much only saw a few photos of the victim and the 4 perps but where did the "She was chasing/stalking them" story come from? A story the defense attorney decided to spin PRIOR to getting a look at his clients or something?

Some defense atty's (Not all !) will seemingly blame the victim.
It's reprehensible.

Do not know if this was the case here.
It sounds more like a story the perps fabricated ?
Imo.

 

[rabidstoat]

He wrote a letter to her parents explaining why he annihilated their daughter with a gun, as if it’s a rational, explainable, act. I’ve never heard anything like this before.

Hope it will be admissible in court.

I've heard of more than a few cases where cops coax the perpetrator into writing a letter of apology. The cops will try to sound friendly and supportive, yes, I know you didn't meant to do this, yes, I understand there must have been a reason, and I know you must feel bad, why don't you write down an apology to the family, you'll feel better and can explain your side.

And then you have a written and signed confession, basically.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Fate. Any one of those young men, could have been home, studying, or at work, or just watching tv, instead of driving around with a friend, getting high, and getting involved in a shooting.

IDK @mickey2942 …. I fear this is much more than fate IMO, aside from the dear poor young woman and the individual with her.

IMO, as to the four ‘young men’, from evidence disclosed thus far, there does not seem IMO be any signs of intelligent actions or behavior….. by any of them…. such that they could have been home, studying, or at work……. or something otherwise productive.

Seems IMO they are now right where they belong and should remain there in perpetuity. They chose their fate. MOO

 

[Knox]

A deputy communications officer with the Marines said Galloway’s forced removal was because the “character of his service was incongruent with the Marines’ expectations and standards” but did not provide further details. They added that Galloway's removal was not a dishonorable discharge because it did not involve a punitive process such as a court-martial.

Suspected shooter of Iron County teen was previously forced out of U.S. Marines

The man suspected of killing a 17-year-old Iron County girl in a drive-by shooting outside Enoch was a rifleman in the U.S. Marines before being forced out of the service over two years ago.

www.fox13now.com

 

[Knox]

KayLee Dutton Obituary (2007 - 2025) - Enoch, Utah

KayLee was born on June 4th, 2007 and passed away on January 17th, 2025 at the age of 17

mortuary.org

 

[iamshadow21]

A deputy communications officer with the Marines said Galloway’s forced removal was because the “character of his service was incongruent with the Marines’ expectations and standards” but did not provide further details. They added that Galloway's removal was not a dishonorable discharge because it did not involve a punitive process such as a court-martial.

Suspected shooter of Iron County teen was previously forced out of U.S. Marines

The man suspected of killing a 17-year-old Iron County girl in a drive-by shooting outside Enoch was a rifleman in the U.S. Marines before being forced out of the service over two years ago.

www.fox13now.com

Sounds like giving someone the option to quit before you fire them.

MOO

 

[JDG]

In a post-Miranda interview, both Hess-Witucki and Galloway confessed to their roles in the incident. Galloway reportedly wrote a letter of apology to Dutton’s parents, explaining his actions and providing his perspective on why he pursued and fired upon their vehicle.

Suspects arrested in shooting and killing of 17-year-old KayLee Dutton, identified

Michael Hess-Witucki is responsible for Kaylees murder. He fired the weapon 12 times.

channel2now.com

Really? He did what?

This link does not work.

 

[iamshadow21]

This link does not work.

Works fine for me.

 

[katydid23]

In a post-Miranda interview, both Hess-Witucki and Galloway confessed to their roles in the incident. Galloway reportedly wrote a letter of apology to Dutton’s parents, explaining his actions and providing his perspective on why he pursued and fired upon their vehicle.

Suspects arrested in shooting and killing of 17-year-old KayLee Dutton, identified

Michael Hess-Witucki is responsible for Kaylees murder. He fired the weapon 12 times.

channel2now.com

Really? He did what?

Also charged with a controlled substance? Bet it was Meth. These miscreants got high and became extra paranoid. Then saw 2 pretty girls in a pick up and decided to follow them. When the girls paid them no attention they turned into incels and began shooting senselessly in a rage. IMO