33-year-old Logan man charged with murder after father's body found in Logan Canyon | News – KVNU

LOGAN — The son of a 77-year-old man found dead in Logan Canyon has been charged with murder before a judge.

Clayton Robert Shaw appeared briefly in a web conference in Logan's 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He was charged with murder, a first-degree felony.

The 33-year-old Logan man answered only a few questions and gave Judge Angela Fonnesbeck his name and date of birth. He also requested a public defender, claiming that he could not afford to hire an attorney to represent him.

Cache County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Winkel explained some of the evidence in the probable cause affidavit. He explained how Dennis Shaw was found in the Franklin Basin parking lot Friday morning with multiple stab wounds to his chest. Officers reported he appeared to have been dragged and taken to the scene.

Investigators believe Dennis Shaw was killed somewhere else and taken to the parking lot because his vehicle wasn't there, Winkel said. Officers later uncovered recent disputes between him and his son.

Winkel said Clayton Shaw was served an eviction notice in July from a property owned by his father or his father's trust. Dennis Shaw also reported that his son came to his home in some sort of “mental crisis,” took away his phone and told him that 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, officers began conducting surveillance on Dennis Shaw's home, where they reported seeing Clayton Shaw walk to the door, knock and then drive away, Winkel said. Police conducted what they called a “high-risk traffic stop” during which they found a knife consistent with the victim's injuries.

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 car's bumper.

When questioned by investigators, Winkel told the court that Clayton Shaw allegedly did not ask what happened or how his father died. However, when confronted with the question of whether he had stabbed his father, he ultimately denied it.

During the 10-minute trial, Clayton Shaw could be seen rolling his eyes or turning to look away from the webcam as Winkel recited some of the investigator's statements. He later raised his hand and asked to ask a question, but was told to speak to his lawyer.

Winkel asked the court to hold the suspect in jail without bail. He said Clayton Shaw poses a significant danger to the community.

Public defender Shannon Demler asked the court to postpone the decision on bail. He asked the court for time to collect evidence in the case.

Clayton Shaw was ordered to remain in jail and appear in court again on October 9th. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Persons arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.