A 41-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by an angry mob who believed him to be a domestic abuser.
Fred Ortiz was found dead behind a store in Magna, Utah, after six people chased him through the streets and at least two of them allegedly killed him with their bare hands, reports Fox 13.
According to an arrest report, the group had initially visited the home of Ortiz’s pregnant girlfriend, a dog breeder, to buy a puppy.
While there the woman allegedly told the group that her eye was black because Ortiz hit her a few days prior.
As the group talked to the unnamed girlfriend, Ortiz rode by on a scooter, according to police, prompting the group to chase after him. Osyeanna Martinez, 19, who was driving a car with others as passengers, is accused of running over Ortiz.
The mob then allegedly chased Ortiz as he tried to escape and after catching up with him, beat him with a metal pole and possibly a pipe, according to court documents.
Police have said said security footage captured Martinez punching and kicking Ortiz.
Another group member, identified as Xandre Hill, 18, was also caught on camera beating Ortiz, according to police, who also believe a 13-year-old child was in the group that attacked the man.
A woman named Hannah, who was also in the mob, told police that as Ortiz’s girlfriend was standing nearby as the beating happened, reports KSL. She claims she asked the girlfriend to try and stop the attack.
Another female in the group, identified only as M.P. in the arrest report, told police that the pregnant girlfriend is her mother and that Ortiz was her stepfather.
She said they didn’t report Ortiz for hitting his girlfriend because they didn’t think his probation officer would do anything to help.
Hill and Martinez were arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County Jail on Monday on murder charges and are being held without bail.
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