FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2026
SLCPD Arrest Man for Homicide
SALT LAKE CITY — Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad arrested a 47-year-old man accused of murder following a homicide investigation near 1700 South 300 East.
Details of the initial investigation
This investigation started at 6:41 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, when officers responded to a possible death.
Discovery of the victim's body
When officers arrived, they found the body of a man on the sidewalk near a utility cart. The man was wrapped in garbage bags and plastic.
Homicide detectives responded and learned a man had been seen pushing the body on the cart. When the cart tipped over the man left the cart and the body, then ran north towards 1700 South.
Medical examiner's cause of death
On May 26 the Utah State Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
Detectives initially could not identify the victim.
Search warrant and apartment findings
After detectives identified the victim, they obtained a search warrant for his apartment. Once inside the apartment detectives found signs of a struggle.
Suspect identification and motive
Detectives learned the victims’ roommate, 47-year-old Bentley Scow, had been arrested on May 26th for retail theft and was still in custody at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
During an interview with Scow detectives learned Scow and the victim had been in a sexual relationship. Scow and the victim got into an argument and Scow ultimately killed the victim before trying to dispose of the body in a dumpster.
Detectives are withholding the victims identify in order to notify next of kin.
Official charges and legal presumption
Detectives booked Scow into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and desecration of a human body.
Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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