By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Update 12-5-25 10:30 a. m.

Thad James Gurule, a resident of Wellington, was arrested on Wednesday and faces several charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the incident. 

After being transported to the hospital, the victim – who remains unnamed – was found to have 17 lacerations and stab wounds. He told police that he did not know the attacker by name, but had met him days before at the post office.

Through their investigation, officers identified Gurule as the alleged attacker.

After making contact with him, officers learned the alleged assault had happened after the victim had allegedly made comments regarding Gurule’s juvenile daughter. Gurule stated that he did an internet search and found that the man was a registered sex offender.

Gurule allegedly then went to the victim’s apartment, asking if he wanted to grab some food. According to court documents, Gurule told detectives that he intended to assault the man to “protect his daughter.”

Officers also say that Gurule made a gesture that the victim should “think again before making comments about his daughter.”

Also, according to these documents, detectives say that Gurule initially denied stabbing the man, but allegedly later admitted to throwing the knife away following the incident.

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact. 

Original story

On Monday, Dec. 1, just after midnight, Officers with the Wellington City Police Department responded to a call of an individual in distress. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located an individual who had “sustained multiple life-threatening wounds.”

“Immediate medical aid was rendered on scene, and the victim was transported to a local medical facility. The individual was later transferred out of the area for advanced medical care,” reads a statement from the Wellington City Police Department.

Multiple agencies coordinated on the ensuing investigation, with personnel from the Wellington City Police Department, Carbon Metro Drug Task Force, Utah Adult Probation & Parole, Price City Police Department, Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, and a K-9 handler & K-9 from the Utah Department of Law Enforcement assisting.

Continues the statement, “Through the quick efforts of responding officers and investigators, persons of interest were identified and taken into custody without incident. Law Enforcement Officers continue to process evidence and conduct interviews.

At the time of writing, the investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. As such, no names of involved individuals have been released to the public.

The department also assures the public that there is no ongoing threat to public safety connected to the incident.

Closing the statement, the department states,” The Wellington City Police Department and partnering agencies are committed to a thorough, transparent investigation and will release additional information as it becomes available.”

This is breaking news; updates will be provided as they become available.