Paul Michael Mumford the man accused of causing las Friday’s multiple fatal car crash could be facing the death penalty said Gary K. Searle Chief Deputy Tooele County Attorney
Mumford was charged Monday on three counts of open murder in Utah’s Third District Court by the Tooele County Attorney’s office. according to Searle the number of deaths alone could qualify Mumford a trip to Death Row.
click for charging information:141408152 – DInformation
“One of the special circumstances in Utah law that makes one eligible for the death penalty is the number of deaths,” Searle explained. “If more than two deaths are involved one could be eligible.”
Mumford was charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of murder, all first-degree felonies; or in the alternative manslaughter, all second-degree felonies; or in the alternative automobile homicide, all second-degree felonies. In addition, he was charged with DUI, a third-degree felony and reckless endangerment, a class-A misdemeanor.
Mumford is accused of killing Delphine John, 44, and her daughters Delilah Ramirez, 20, and Anaya Adame Orozco, 3, all of Farmington when he crashed head on into their SUV while driving on the wrong side of Interstate 80. The only occupant of the SUV who survived was identified as Jose Fidel Adame Orozco, 36 is still clinging to life in a coma.
According to Utah Highway Patrol reports shortly before the crash several calls of an erratic pickup truck driver were received around 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses told police the driver of a pickup truck identified as Mumford stopped in the median at one point, and another driver told him he needed to stop driving. Another driver, who had observed the pickup truck driver’s alleged reckless driving, also pulled into the median and confronted him. The pickup truck driver then turned around and drove away. According to UHP, the pickup driver then made a U-turn and drove east on the westbound lanes, ultimately colliding head-on with the Suburban at 80 mph.
The Suburban involved in the incident had the engine knocked out of it. Alcohol or drugs may have been involved, police said.
UHP confirmed an Delphine John and her daughters Delilah Ramirez and Anaya Adame Orozco died in a crash. The fourth passenger in the vehicle, the father, is in critical condition. Utah Highway Patrol said it appeared the teenager and infant were not wearing seat belts.
Mumford, the driver of the pickup truck was taken to the hospital and is expected to live. The family had been on their way on a camping trip for the fourth of July holiday.
The crash occurred around 7 p.m. near mile marker 29, 30 miles east of the Utah/Nevada border.
According to the charging documents Mumford spoke briefly to UHP troopers after the crash.
“Mr. Mumford stated that he left Wendover and must have fallen asleep. He did not remember anything about the accident, ” according to the charges.
Mumford then asked the trooper if anyone had been hurt or died in the crash. When the investigator told him yes, he stopped answering his questions and asked for an attorney, the charges state.
A warrant for cash-only $400,000 bail was issued Monday for Mumford.
Mumford has a long history of drinking, driving and violence according to Salt Lake County Jail records.
Going back at least as far as 2000 Mumford was arrested no less than six times most of the charges either stem from DUI’s, public intoxication or domestic violence jail records indicate.
There is however a nine year gap between an October 2005 arrest for hit and run and a June 2014 arrest of domestic assault. Indicating that either Mumford had cleaned up his act, moved to another jurisdiction or was incarcerated. There are no records however of an inmate matching Mumford’s name or birthdate in the Nevada prison system nor is any available from the Utah Prison system.
