LOGAN — The son of a 77-year-old man found dead in Logan Canyon has been arraigned before a judge on a charge of murder.
Clayton Robert Shaw appeared briefly by web conference Monday afternoon in Logan’s 1st District Court. He was charged with one count of murder, a first-degree felony.
The 33-year-old Logan man answered only a couple questions, telling Judge Angela Fonnesbeck his name and birth date. He also requested a public defender, claiming he was unable to afford hiring an attorney to represent him.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Mark Winkel outlined some of the evidence from the probable cause affidavit. He explained how Dennis Shaw was found with multiple stab wounds to the chest Friday morning in the Franklin Basin parking lot. Deputies reported he appeared to have been dragged and placed at the scene.
Investigators suspect Dennis Shaw was killed somewhere else and taken to the parking lot, since his vehicle was not there, explained Winkel. Deputies later uncovered a recent history of disputes between he and his son.
Winkel said Clayton Shaw had been served an eviction notice in July from a property owned by his father or his father’s trust. Dennis Shaw also reported his son came to his house in some kind of “mental crisis,” took away his phone and told him he was “trying to find a way to kill you.”
Investigators said Clayton Shaw suffered from paranoia and was known to carry a firearm, Winkel told the court.
On Sept. 27, deputies began watching Dennis Shaw’s house, where they reported seeing Clayton Shaw walk up to the door, knock, and then drive away, Winkel said. Law enforcement conducted what they called a “high-risk traffic stop,” where they found a knife consistent with the injuries sustained by the victim.
Winkel explained that during a search of the vehicle, police found a used bottle of hydrogen peroxide and drops of human blood in the trunk. A bloody fingerprint was found near the bumper of the car.
While being questioned by investigators, Winkel told the court, Clayton Shaw allegedly didn’t ask what had happened or how his father died. However, when confronted with the question of whether he had stabbed his father, he finally made a denial.
During the 10 minute court hearing, Clayton Shaw was seen rolling his eyes, or turning and looking away from the web camera as Winkel was reciting some of investigator’s evidence. He later raised his hand, requesting to ask a question, but was told to speak to his legal council.
Winkel asked the court to hold the suspect in jail without bail. He said Clayton Shaw constituted a substantial danger to the community.
Public defender Shannon Demler asked to court to postpone deciding whether bail would be allowed. He asked the court for time to gather evidence in the case.
Clayton Shaw was ordered to remain in jail and appear again in court Oct. 9. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.