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Police ID Roy homicide victim; prosecutors allege suspect spoiled evidence

By Mark Shenefelt - | Jan 25, 2023

Adobe Stock

ROY — Roy police have released the identity of a 62-year-old woman who was the victim of an apparent homicide on Jan. 17.

Suzanne Meyer died of an apparent gunshot wound. Her husband, Dave Richard Meyer, 69, has been charged with first-degree murder. He also is accused of obstruction of justice because he did not report the death until Saturday morning, four days later.

Roy police said Dave Meyer told them his wife had been urging him to kill her because of chronic back pain stemming from a car crash a decade ago. He said he allegedly shot her in the head with a 9 mm handgun as he was rubbing her back with his other hand.

Asked about Suzanne Meyer’s autopsy results, Officer Stuart Hackworth, Roy police spokesperson, said Wednesday that detectives “are tying up loose ends” in the investigation and had no further comment now.

In a motion seeking a judge’s order for continued pretrial detention, the Weber County Attorney’s Office on Monday said Meyer is now homeless and a risk to flee if he is released. He also is a danger to the community and himself, the motion said.

“After killing his wife, he stayed in the home with his wife’s decomposing body for several days, hiding the incident from authorities and others,” prosecutor Clark Harms said in the motion. This delayed the investigation, leading to “the spoilation or degradation of evidence, blood toxicology and evidence at the scene,” the motion said.

In the days after the shooting, video surveillance recorded by neighbors showed Meyer disposing of trash in curbside bins, the motion said.

Meyer told police his house was foreclosed last week and he did not know where he would stay. He also said he thought of killing himself after he shot his wife, according to the motion.

Because Meyer admitted he was a daily marijuana user without a medical cannabis card, he is charged with two counts of third-degree felony possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person. Police said they found 9 mm and .357 caliber handguns in the home.

Dave Meyer did not have an attorney of record as of Wednesday afternoon.

Brandon Merrill, an attorney for Orem-based Utah Homicide Services, an advocate for crime victims, filed notice on Tuesday that he would participate in the case. In past local homicide cases, Merrill has spoken in court in support of victims’ needs and has made recommendations for offender’s prison sentences.

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