Two charged with stabbing man 20 times in West Valley killing

WEST VALLEY CITY — Two men were charged Friday with stabbing another man 20 times, killing him, during an argument in West Valley City.

Colton Kloepfer, 20, of Kearns, and Maison Pullman, 19, of West Valley City, are each charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. Bail for both men has been set at $1 million.

On Feb. 25, Troy Carter, 27, and two friends picked up Kloepfer and Pullman from a bowling alley in West Valley City. While Carter was driving, an argument broke out between him, Kloepfer and Pullman, and one of the men broke a window in Carter’s car with a skateboard, according to charging documents.

Carter pulled over near Peachwood Park, 3510 W. 3965 South, and a physical fight ensued. Witnesses told police they saw both Kloepfer and Pullman pull out knives, knock Carter to the ground and stab him repeatedly, the charges state.

Prosecutors say one of Carter’s friends tried to intervene but Kloepfer slashed him in the hand with a knife.

Carter’s friends brought him to Jordan Valley Medical Center, where he later died about 1:30 a.m. the next day. Charging documents say he sustained at least 20 knife wounds to his neck, chest, stomach, back and arms.

“Pullman told detectives that during a fight between Troy and Kloepfer, he witnessed Kloepfer stabbing Troy so he took out his smaller knife and began stabbing Troy,” an officer wrote in the charges.

Kloepfer and Pullman fled the scene on foot and were arrested at 5575 W. Poacher Circle. Police searched the house and located two knives, one hidden beneath a chair and another inside a cardboard box in another room, the charges say. Police say both knives appeared to have blood on them.

Both men admitted to stabbing Carter, according to the charges.