A Holladay man is headed to state prison after a jury found he kidnapped and brutally assaulted the sister who had been letting him live in her home. On Friday, 57-year-old Samuel Shroy Martindale was handed a decades-long sentence that includes a 15-to-life term for aggravated kidnapping, along with additional prison time for assault.
Martindale was ordered to serve 15 years to life for aggravated kidnapping and two terms of 0 to 5 years for two aggravated assault convictions, with the kidnapping sentence to be served consecutively to the other two, according to KSL. A jury convicted him after a three-day trial and acquitted him of a third assault charge and of violating a jail-release court order.
How prosecutors say it unfolded
Police responded to the Holladay home on Feb. 15, 2024, and found the victim with serious cuts and bruises. Prosecutors say Martindale beat his sister for roughly two hours and even used a toilet-tank lid as a weapon.
According to the account presented in court, Martindale tied his sister up, tried to drag her downstairs, placed a knife near her neck and locked her in a room where she could not get out. Prosecutors also say he had been staying with her following a recent stay in rehab and had relapsed, as reported by KSL.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said his office "will vigorously prosecute those defendants who cause harm to others."
Support for survivors
Advocates stress that survivors and worried family members do not have to handle situations like this alone and should seek confidential, local help. The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a 24-hour LINKLine at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) and posts resources online at UDVC. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Court next steps
The judge ordered Martindale's sentences to run consecutively. Court records filed in the Third District Court will reflect the full judgment and any future filings in the case.
