Isaiah Pulu: Charges laid after three men with disabilities found dead in car from carbon monoxide poisoning
The driver allegedly left the three men in the running vehicle while he ‘ate lunch and watched television’ in his apartment.
A man has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly left three disabled men alone in a running vehicle.
According to West Valley City Police, officers responded to a report of three unresponsive people in a car located about 17km outside of Utah’s Salt Lake City.
At the time of the incident, Isaiah Pulu, 25, allegedly left the three men in the parked van inside a garage at 2730 S High Park Way while the engine was still running.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“The driver of that vehicle is an employee of a service that provides transportation for disabled adults and had been transporting the three men from three different assisted living facilities,” police said.
“Around lunchtime, the driver had stopped at his own home and went inside, leaving the three men inside the running vehicle.
“The driver reports returning to the vehicle 1-2 hours later, finding all three men deceased.”
The three men, who were residents of three different group homes in West Valley City, have since been identified as Colton Moser, 25, Mosa’ati Moa, 22, and Tim Jones, 39.
They had all reportedly died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to court documents obtained by ABC4, Pulu reportedly ate lunch and watched television inside his apartment while the three men were inside the van.
Two men were reportedly non-verbal, while Pulu told police the third man was combative and “known to fight”, according to ABC4.
Investigators interviewed Pulu, and arrested him not long after the incident.
He was charged with three counts of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult.
Nate Crippes, a supervising attorney with the Disability Law Centre, called the incident “horrific and tragic”, according to KUTV.
“I think there are people with disabilities that could be at greater risk for this,” he said. “People with disabilities are certainly more likely to be abused or neglected.”
Pulu is currently being held at the Salt Lake County Jail without bail.
