President Donald Trump vowed retribution for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as police went door-to-door searching for the suspect, but the ‘law-and-order’ veneer of America’s only convicted criminal to occupy the White House could be exposed as hypocrisy, as Utah, like many other places, has a long list of unsolved homicides.
It’s clear that Americans are subjected to prolific injustice because there are different standards for the famous, rich, and powerful in comparison with the rules for everyone else.
The investigation into the assassination of the conservative activist ended when the alleged assassin turned himself in, but authorities face significant hurdles in identifying and prosecuting a suspect whose family doesn’t hand him over.
The case was obviously handled differently from the over 400 unsolved homicides in Utah, according to the state’s cold case database.
Trump was calling for the death penalty before any facts were known about the legal case facing a 22-year-old defendant.
Kirk, 31, was shot while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. A single rifle shot struck the Turning Point USA founder during his “Prove Me Wrong” debate series.
The suspect fled the scene and remained at large despite intensive search efforts before turning himself in to the authorities. Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Kirk, is now awaiting trial. If he is convicted of capital murder, the 22-year-old could be sentenced to death.
The victim’s widow, Erika, who took over as the CEO of the political organization her late husband once ran, wants cameras allowed in the courtroom for Robinson’s trial.
The Utah Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation with FBI assistance. Commissioner Beau Mason stated the agency is pursuing multiple leads but acknowledged the complexity of the case. “We’re following all evidence, but this was clearly a planned attack by someone who took measures to avoid detection,” Mason said.
Utah’s cold case database includes hundreds of unsolved homicides dating back decades. A 2025 state law (Senate Bill 160) required all law enforcement agencies to enter their cold cases into a centralized system.
The department received funding for a full-time cold case analyst and database support.
Notable unsolved cases include:
- Melissa Griggs (1995): A 33-year-old woman murdered in West Valley City (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/melissa-griggs/)
- Ann Michelle Rich (1999): A 31-year-old woman found murdered in Salt Lake City (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/ann-michelle-rich/)
- Alberto Vence (1998): A 36-year-old man found murdered in a hotel room (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/alberto-vence/)
- Alice Marie Grieco (2000): A homicide victim with case details remaining unresolved (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/alice-marie-grieco/)
- Alice Valdez (2019): A 41-year-old woman whose body was found in September 2019 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/alice-valdez/)
- Albert William Spatz (1988): A 67-year-old man murdered in May 1988 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/albert-william-spatz/)
- Bryan Cliff Pickett (1980): A 22-year-old man shot in February 1980 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/bryan-cliff-pickett/)
- Carson George Thonsen (2003): A 49-year-old man murdered in September 2003 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/carson-george-thonsen/)
Law enforcement officials cite several factors complicating the Kirk investigation.
The shooting occurred in an open campus environment with multiple potential escape routes. The shooter used a high-powered rifle, suggesting advanced planning and possibly specialized training.
“These types of targeted attacks are exceptionally difficult to solve when the perpetrator has no prior connection to the victim,” said Robert Bohls, FBI special agent. “We’re analyzing forensic evidence and following all leads, but there are no guarantees”.
Utah’s cold case unit operates with limited resources despite recent funding increases.
The state’s clearance rate for homicides was approximately 61% in 2022, below the national average. Older cases face additional challenges as evidence degrades and witnesses become unavailable.
The state’s cold case database reveals patterns in unresolved investigations. Many cases involve victims from marginalized communities or transient populations.
Others lack physical evidence or reliable witnesses.
In Ogden alone, police list numerous unsolved homicides including:
- Frank Orme (1993): A homicide victim with case details remaining unresolved (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/frank-orme/)
- Antonio Arana (1998): A homicide victim killed in January 1998 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/antonio-arana/)
- Brian Sean Housley (2017): A 28-year-old man shot in November 2017 (https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/brian-sean-housley/)
Investigators continue to process evidence from the Kirk crime scene. The rifle recovered near the campus undergoes forensic testing for fingerprints and DNA. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from multiple locations around the university.
“We remain committed to solving this case,” Mason said. “But history shows some investigations take years to resolve, if they get resolved at all”.
The Utah Department of Public Safety encourages anyone with information about Kirk’s shooting or any cold case to contact their tip line.
The department’s cold case database is available to the public at https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/.
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