Early morning yesterday, Salt Lake City became the backdrop for a grim double homicide at a downtown hotel. The Salt Lake City Police Department responded to a shooting at 171 West 500 South, arriving to find two men critically injured, both of whom later died at the scene. The names of the deceased are withheld pending family notifications. SLCPD provided an update on the arrests made in connection with the incident.
The investigation has led to the custody of three individuals. Forty-year-old Tiffani Papach, 38-year-old Kendra Mitchell, and 56-year-old Kevin Thrower were arrested under various charges related to the homicides. According to SLCPD, a dispute involving a hotel room renter escalated into violence, culminating in the tragedy. In a turn of events, the encounter started with a payment dispute before spiraling out of control.
Detectives have pieced together that Mitchell contacted Papach, who dispatched two men to the hotel as "security" or "protection." Upon arrival, one man armed with a handgun and his accomplice forced entry into the hotel room, later assaulting the renter and demanding money. The two intruders ended up shot during the altercation, succumbing to their injuries on the spot.
Tiffani Papach now faces charges of obstruction of justice, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary, booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail alongside Mitchell, who faces charges of aggravated burglary and robbery. Thrower, wrapped up in the aftermath, is accused of trying to mislead the investigation. Despite his efforts to distort the truth, his ties unraveled as Mitchell disclosed to detectives that she had informed him about the shootings, advising her to stay silent. "He allegedly claimed Mitchell had run off, even though she was standing next to him," as per SLCPD. Thrower was also arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice.
