ANOTHER Murder Just Happened In Southern Utah, Suspect In Custody

Suddenly, it feels like Southern Utah ISN'T the safest place in the world anymore. Just a few months ago, Mia Bailey, a Southern Utah local, murdered both of her parents in their home. In January of 2023 police did a wellness check in Enoch to find that Michael Haight had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and five children in their home. Now, today, it appears ANOTHER murder has happened!

On Sunday night, September 1st, Eric L. Sampson was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility and (according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office) charged with Murder and Aggravated Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury. St. George Police posting the following:

St. George City Police

"On September 1, 2024 at approximately 8:35 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of 2800 S 2300 E on a cardiac arrest. When officers arrived on scene they found Niki A. Sampson (47) deceased inside the home. Circumstances around her death were suspicious and upon further investigation, her husband, Eric L. Sampson (50) was identified as a suspect and arrested. Eric was booked into Purgatory and charged with DV Aggravated Assault and Murder.

This case is still open and under investigation. We ask that if anyone has information they want to share, to please call the St. George Police Department Tip Line at 435-627-4338.

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic incident."

Besides Police stating that they found the circumstances around Niki's death to be "suspicious", they did not elaborate on what led them to believe he was a suspect.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

In late July of this year, just 38 days ago, Police arrested Eric L. Sampson after receiving a call from Niki that she had been attacked by her husband. Niki claimed that he had thrown her, pinned her arms down, and pulled out some of her hair inside the house before she was able to contact the police. According to the arresting officer, he then followed her into the backyard after she made the call, where he allegedly "grabbed her with both hands and threw her to the ground." Sampson entered a plea of not guilty. A judge ruled that Sampson could be released under several conditions: he must pledge to attend all required court hearings, check in in person once a month, enroll in pretrial monitoring, sign a jail release agreement, and agree not to commit any further criminal offenses.

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