Utah County attorney seeks death penalty against man accused of killing Santaquin police officer | News, sports, jobs

Courtesy of the Utah Department of Public Safety

Utah District Attorney Jeffrey Gray announced Wednesday that he is seeking the death penalty for the man accused of beating and killing Santaquin police officer Sgt. Bill Hooser earlier this year, according to a press release.

Gray filed a lawsuit seeking the final sentence for Michael Aaron Jayne, who is accused of nine felonies, including aggravated murder, the release said.

Jayne is accused of intentionally striking and killing Hooser with an 18-wheel tractor-trailer while the trooper and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper were conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 15 on May 5.

Hooser died at the scene. The UHP officer and a woman who court documents say Jayne held against her will at halftime both survived.

Jayne, 42, allegedly fled the scene and stole two more vehicles before he was eventually arrested by police near Vernal.

Courtesy of Santaquin Police Department

Jayne appeared in court about a week later where the charges were filed.

In July, Jayne was named the new representative because the Utah County District Attorney's Office said it had too many murder cases to handle, KSL Newsradio reported.

Jayne remains in jail without bail. According to the press release, a status conference on the case is scheduled for November 13th.