On Monday, Kent Cody Barlow was given a sentence that ranged from 30 years to life for causing the deaths of two young boys, Odin and Hunter, in Eagle Mountain. According to FOX13, the two sentences, each 15 years to life for the death of each boy, will run consecutively. The tragic events unfolded when Barlow, driving at an excessive speed of over 120 mph while under the influence of methamphetamine, crashed into Cedar Valley Stables, where the toddlers were playing.
KUTV reported that as a result of Barlow's reckless driving, he plowed through multiple fences before striking the children, who were killed instantly. The prosecution, as ABC4 reported, originally filed manslaughter charges against Barlow, but later upgraded them to first-degree felony murder in light of the heinous nature of his actions.
This case experienced various delays along the way, leading to a reassignment of the judge. Judge Lund stated the case would require review by a new jurist, Judge Derek Pullan, in this evolving legal journey. On November 4, 2024, more than two years after the tragedy, Judge Pullan set the trial dates, which finally commenced in April 2025.
Throughout the trial, per ABC4, Barlow's defense described their client as someone "having too good of a time," but not a "cold-blooded killer." The prosecution, however, countered by defining Barlow's disregard for the sanctity of life as a "depraved indifference murder." The jury's decision to convict Barlow under these charges reflects the gravity with which our society condemns such reckless endangerment of the innocent.
