Murder Mystery Leads Tooele Police To Body Dumped In West Desert

TOOELE, Utah — Police said they discovered a body in a remote area of Tooele County and arrested a man in connection with a homicide investigation that began earlier in the week.

Detectives characterized the situation as a robbery gone bad.

Investigators recovered the remains they believed to be of 24-year-old Devin Perryman outside of Delle, Utah, late Thursday.

On Friday, Tooele City police Sgt. Jeremy Hansen said it appeared Perryman had gone to a residence at 363 North Garden Street with 23-year-old Austin Strehle with the intent to rob the occupants.

“During the course of that robbery, shots were exchanged and Mr. Perryman was hit, ultimately resulting in his death,” Hansen said.

Police said the investigation began Monday with a report of shots fired northeast of the intersection of Utah Avenue and Main Street.

Though officers found nothing that night, they were called to the Garden Street location Tuesday afternoon on a “psychiatric patient assist.”

Police say they are still looking for Brandon Burr. They had previously put out his name as someone they were looking for who might have more information. pic.twitter.com/PjIC9rFMI0

— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) June 5, 2020

Jail documents said Strehle expressed that he was distraught over his involvement with a possible homicide.

After taking Strehle to a medical center for a psychological evaluation, jail records said that police heard Strehle tell doctors that the men “decided to rob a known meth house and he stated it would not be an easy job.”

“Mr. Strehle stated he did not want anyone to get hurt but wanted money,” the probable cause statement said. “Mr. Strehle stated they went to the above location, and he went in and his friend went in. Mr. Strehle stated he pistol-whipped the first guy and told him to give him money and then his friend and the other male began shooting each other. Mr. Strehle stated he used the first male as a shield and his friend lay deceased on the floor.”

Hansen said through the investigation, detectives learned that several of the victims of the robbery concealed the death and dumped Perryman’s body in the desert outside of Delle.

Jail records noted that after further investigation, it appeared that Strehle was the one who initially reported shots fired.

Strehle was booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and criminal homicide, as well as misdemeanor interference with an arresting officer.

Hansen said it was possible others could face a variety of charges in connection with what happened.

Police were also still looking for 38-year-old Brandon Burr in connection with what happened.

Anybody with information as to his whereabouts was asked to call Tooele County Dispatch Center at 435-882-5600.