Two stabbings took place within county

Police arrested a 26-year-old Green River resident after he allegedly stabbed another man at the Hutton Heights Mobile Home Park.

According to the Green River Police Department, officers arrived to the scene at about 11:32 p.m. June 22 and found an adult man, identified as Jakob Taggert, with a deep, L-shaped stab wound to his left thigh. Taggart was transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, then later the University of Utah Medical Center for treatment.

Jordan Christiansen, 26, of Green River, was arrested for alleged aggravated assault. He appeared before Circuit Court Judge John Prokos Friday and was placed on $7,500 cash or surety bond. If he’s convicted, Christiansen faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to court documents, the incident occurred after an altercation between the two men escalated. Documents state Taggart’s girlfriend Jessica Murphy arranged to stay at Christiansen’s residence with his wife. Christiansen’s wife, Jessica allowed Murphy to stay at the residence but said Taggart was not welcome after showing “volatile behavior” towards Murphy.

Murphy and Taggart spoke to one another at about 11 p.m. outside the Christiansens’ residence, with Jessca Christiansen telling Taggart to turn his lights off or leave the area as she didn’t want him at the home. The second time, Jordan accompanied Murphy and told Taggart to leave. As Jordan walked away, Taggart yelled at him, pushed him to the ground and the two wrestled with Taggart on top of Jordan.

Documents state Jordan initially denied having a knife and stabbing Taggart. However, during a later interview, Jordan told investigators he always carries a knife in his back pocket, using it for work and household chores. Jordan said he pulled the knife out of its nylon sheath to prevent himself from falling onto the blade, but claims when he pulled it out, Taggart then fell onto the knife and denied intentionally stabbing him. Jordan also said multiple times he was trying to protect his family and said he felt threatened by Taggart. Jordan said Taggert got up and told Jordan he stabbed him and walked back to his truck. Jordan then picked up the knife and threw it behind the trailers west of his residence.

A second, fatal stabbing occurred the same night in Rock Springs, ultimately resulting in charges of first degree murder and attempted murder to be filed against Bradley Fairbourn an 18-year-old man from Draper, Utah.