Teen allegedly forced murder victim to dig his own grave before killing him
A Utah teen was arrested after he allegedly forced a man to dig his own grave before killing him and burning his body, authorities said.
Badly burned remains identified through dental records as Wesley Dee Nay, 22, were found buried in a remote area of Utah County on October 20, police said.
The shallow grave, which had been discovered by hunters, had only been between one- and two-feet deep, and a thin layer of dirt was all that covered the remains, officials said.
The Medical Examiner reported Nay had suffered significant blunt force trauma and also had injuries indicating he had been cut or stabbed.
Nay had been reported missing on September 18, though he had last been seen alive August 29, when witnesses told police he was seen leaving a Mount Pleasant home with 19-year-old Raul Vidrio.
The pair had reportedly gotten into an argument at the time.
Vidrio was arrested on November 15, when police found him with an allegedly stolen pickup truck, shovels, a pick and gas containers, authorities said.
He was also found with a large fixed-blade knife in a black leather sheath that was later confirmed to contain Nay's DNA, officials said.
Vidrio allegedly admitted to detectives that a shovel found in the stolen pickup belonged to him.
Investigators also allegedly found an image on Vidrio's cell phone that showed Nay wearing the same clothing he had last been seen alive in and digging what would become his own grave, police said.
Vidrio was charged Monday with one count of aggravated murder, when he made an initial court appearance.
He remained jailed Wednesday on $500,000 bail, online records show, and is scheduled to return to court on December 1.
The investigation into Nay's alleged slaying remains active and it is likely that additional arrests will be made, authorities said.