File photo of crime scene. (credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
MAGNA, Utah (AP) — A group of six is behind bars after police say they bound their 41-year-old roommate’s feet with tape, stapled his lips shut, and spent the night torturing him with a small power tool in their Utah home near Salt Lake City.
Police believe the suspects were suspicious about their new roommate, who told authorities he’d moved into the house in Magna a week and a half earlier and had agreed to remodel the basement in exchange for rent.
“One of the suspect’s claims over the last several weeks different people have pulled a gun on him in the street,” Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said. “They believe (the victim) was responsible for it.”
Hoyal says six men and women held the roommate at gunpoint in their home starting late Saturday or early Sunday. They handcuffed him, put staples in his ears and chest, and used a Dremel tool to cut him, according to jail reports.
Police said the roommates struck him multiple times with objects including a crutch, a keyboard, a laptop and the butt of a shotgun.
“All night they tortured him,” Hoyal said.
The group decided at about 4 a.m. Sunday that the roommate might not be responsible for the threats, Hoyal said. They released the man, who reportedly fled to his sister’s house and was taken to a hospital.
Six people were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and obstruction of justice.
Records showed all of the suspects remained there Tuesday morning. It’s unclear whether they have attorneys.
The six suspects are Jennifer Moses, 30; Lee Carl Moses, 26; David Masters, 55; Paula Masters, 43; Brandon Haggard, 20; and Tracy Jordan, 45.
Magna is about 15 miles from Salt Lake City.
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