Charges filed against Utah man accused of killing coworker with hammer
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Charges have been filed against the man accused of killing his co-worker at a temporary storage facility in early January.
According to court documents, Nathan David Evans, 41, allegedly struck the 65-year-old victim, identified as David Hinkebein, 15 times with a hammer, killing him at their workplace. Evans has now been charged with first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony desecration of a human body.
According to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, a driver for Advantage Services told detectives he had picked up several people the night of the alleged murder, including Evans. The driver said he overheard one angry passenger, later believed to be Evans, say he was going to “kill a guy” at a warehouse by “bashing his head in.” The angry passenger allegedly admitted it was because he didn’t like how he was being treated and the victim messed with his stuff.
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A few days later another co-worker went looking for Hinkebein in the back office, only to allegedly be stopped by Evans. The co-worker said he later noticed bloody handprints on the wall and blood stains on the carpet. When the coworker confronted Evans about the mess, Evans allegedly became defensive and used vague, short, abbreviated responses about the situation.
The co-worker reportedly asked Evans if Hinkebein was okay, to which Evans allegedly replied, “He’s done,” which the coworker took to mean Hinkebein was dead.
Responding investigators said they found a hammer that had blood on it as well as a garbage bag that matched clothes belonging to Evans covered in blood. A doctor with the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Hinkebein had suffered at least 15 blunt force injuries consistent with a hammer. The doctor also noticed at least 3 sharp force injuries to the neck which he said was done after Hinkebein had died.
“When people go to work they do not expect to be faced with violence. Workplace violence is intolerable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by this office,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “Our hearts go out to those who knew Mr. Hinkebein through his work with those experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County.”
Evans allegedly claimed he had not seen Hinkebein for days and denied going into the back offices or speaking to his coworker about the mess.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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