Utah man found guilty of murder

A Utah man was found guilty last week of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder at a Rock Springs hotel in 2016.

Bradley Ross Fairbourn, 20, of Draper, Utah, was found guilty Thursday afternoon after five hours of deliberation by a jury. The trial started Feb. 7 and wrapped up Feb. 14. According to Teresa Thybo, deputy Sweetwater County Attorney, sentencing will take place after a presentence investigation is completed. She said the investigation could take anywhere from 60 to 90 days.

Fairbourn faces life in prison as a penalty for first-degree murder.

The trial and charges stem from a June 23, 2016, incident where Fairbourn, then 18, stabbed and killed a woman and injured her friend at the Quality Inn in Rock Springs.

According to court documents, police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the Quality Inn at about 1:23 a.m., after an emergency call was made by Linda Acre, who said her friend was dying after being stabbed by a bearded man in a red shirt.

Acre, Naisha Story and their boyfriends were traveling through the area, planning to spend a few days in Rock Springs, before going to Cheyenne for a few days and ultimately Denver.

The body of a woman, later identified as Story, was found between rooms 119 and 121. Both Story and Acre were transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, where Story died from her injuries at 3:20 a.m.

The RSPD arrested Fairbourn, who matched Acre’s description had been beaten by Acre’s boyfriend, outside the Wonderful House restaurant shortly after arriving.

While being interviewed by police, Fairbourn said he had contacted his victims through Backpage.com, claiming he negotiated a sexual encounter with Story and Acre for $300. Joseph Lovato, who was Story’s boyfriend, later told investigators he was aware the two women contacted men through Backpage.com, but said the two only offered body rubs, saying he didn’t think Story or Acre were meeting men for sexual encounters.

Patrons of the hotel interviewed by the RSPD reported hearing what sounded like a woman being raped, as well as sounds like someone being thrown against a wall.

After viewing video recorded at the JFC Engineers and Surveyors building nearby, Fairbourn was seen carrying an unknown object. A knife was also found on top of the nearby Smyth Printing building.