Suspect Arrested In Connection To 2018 Stabbing That Left 1 Dead In SLC

SALT LAKE CITY — A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the 2018 death of Candace Samples.

Police on Monday said Kidus Yohannes had been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on felony murder charges.

“Homicide investigations are sometimes long and complicated but we never rest, and cases are never ‘cold,'” Salt Lake City police said in a tweet Monday.

Samples was found in an enclosed dumpster enclosure behind a Dollar Tree store in the area of 500 North and 300 West on Nov. 7, 2018. Another victim was located, and both were taken to area hospitals.

Officers said Samples suffered more than 25 stab wounds during the attack, and she later died at the hospital.

Witnesses told police that Samples and the male victim had stolen Yohannes’ cell phone at the Salt Lake City Public Library’s Marmalade Branch.

“The suspect chased the female across the street and was holding her at knifepoint demanding that he get his cell phone back,” officers said in the probable cause statement. “The suspect released the other male believing that the female still had his cellphone and made statements to witnesses and the female victim that he would kill for his phone while holding her at knifepoint.”

Witnesses told police they alerted the male victim, saying the Yohannes was holding Samples at knifepoint. The victim attempted to help Samples before police said he was stabbed multiple times.

1 Dead, 1 Injured After Stabbing In Salt Lake City

Police obtained a search warrant and said Yohannes’ clothing, DNA and latent prints were collected on Nov. 18, 2018.

On May 24, 2021, forensic testing at the state crime lab identified Samples’ blood on Yohannes’ clothing, according to the probable cause statement.

Police said all three individuals were homeless at the time of the stabbing.