A 38-year-old man accused of killing his wife by running her over at Salt Lake City International Airport with their kid in the car has been arrested and charged.
Shawn Christopher Sturgeon was arrested Monday, April 4, after he allegedly hit and killed his 29-year-old wife, Charlotte Sturgeon with the couple's SUV at the airport's parking lot.
The family was returning from vacation Monday, when the tragedy occurred, police said.
Surveillance footage from the airport parking garage reportedly shows Shawn placing their child in the rear passenger seat before getting into the driving seat.
The SUV’s brake lights then turns on as Shawn drives forward, running over his wife. He drives approximately 10 feet before applying the brakes to load her into the car.
"The victim appears to be standing in the open rear passenger door and (her husband) begins to reverse the vehicle. The victim's legs can be seen flailing about as he continues to reverse, being dragged which causes her to fall to the ground under the vehicle," according to the affidavit.
"Shortly after the crash, Sturgeon drove the vehicle, with his wife critically injured inside, to the airport parking payment booths where he asked for help," according to a statement from Salt Lake police.
"Because Sturgeon drove from the garage to the parking payment booths, SLCPD established two crime scenes to document and collect evidence."
Paramedics rushed Charlotte to the hospital where she died, despite lifesaving efforts being performed on scene at the airport and at the hospital.
Our detectives are responding to a criminal investigation at the Salt Lake City International Airport. There is no immediate danger to the public and airport operations are not affected. A PIO is en route. Media staging will be in the 'Media Only' parking lot. #slc #ut #slcpd pic.twitter.com/NEIdkavx7O
— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) April 4, 2022
Shawn was questioned and taken into police custody.
"The arriving officers stated that (he) appeared to be under the influence of alcohol as evidenced by the odor coming from his mouth and glassy bloodshot eyes," the affidavit states.
During questioning, Shawn "made several spontaneous utterances that he 'ran my wife over,' 'killed my wife' and 'I accidentally ran her over,'" investigators said.
Shawn was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of "automobile homicide criminal negligence DUI of alcohol-drugs," according to jail records.
This is an ongoing investigation and the death is being treated as a homicide.
"No further information on this case is being released," Salt Lake City police told USA News Today.
Airport operations were not affected by the incident.
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