Suspect charges increased to aggravated murder in death of Mt. Pleasant man
Robert Stevens
Managing editor
12-1-2016
PROVO — Prosecutors have increased the stakes for an alleged gang member charged in connection with the murder of Mt. Pleasant man Wesley Dee Nay.
Raul Francisco Vidrio, 19, of Mt. Pleasant was originally charged with criminal homicide, but now the charge has been officially increased to aggravated murder. Aggravated murder is punishable by either death, life in prison without parole or an indeterminate prison term of no less than 25 years, which may be for life.
Now that Vidrio is potentially facing a death charge if convicted, Rule 8 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that he be represented by counsel qualified to represent a potential death sentence defendant.
Vidrio first appeared in the Fourth Judicial District Court on Nov. 21, where he was appointed counsel. He will appear in the court again today.
According to the probable cause statement on Vidrio’s arrest, he is a known member of the Surenos gang, and he reportedly admitted in an interview with investigators that he uses and sells methamphetamine.
During a search of Vidrio’s residence, detectives discovered a U.S. passport. Investigators say they have received confirmation that Vidrio has close ties to family in Mexico.
The probable cause statement offers some other information on the case, including testimony from a witness who claims he overheard Vidrio and two other individuals talking about “opening the door to hell, the Saint of the Dead, and some dark s–t.”
The statement also claims that police recovered a deleted text message from Vidrio’s phone that was sent to someone named “Peanut.” The message said, “Homie, please get a shovel and delete this.”
Vidrio remains in jail on a $500,000 cash only bail.
