Parole decisions made for Utah inmates serving time for homicide, manslaughter

SALT LAKE CITY — Recent decisions by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole regarding inmates serving time for taking another person's life have resulted in two people being granted parole and two being given release dates, but all four being ordered to serve a little more time.

Jonathan Ulises Analco-Cruz

In 2014, Jonathan Ulises Analco-Cruz tried to avoid police by speeding away from the Salt Lake City International Airport toward I-80, reaching 103 mph before losing control near the I-215 interchange where his car rolled.

All three passengers in Analco-Cruz's vehicle — Michaela Martin, 18, of Taylorsville, Hardinger Cruz, 17, of Salt Lake City, and Randy Ruiz, 14, of Midvale — were killed. Analco-Cruz was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Analco-Cruz's blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.21% and THC was detected in his system. Utah's legal limit at the time was 0.08%.

Analco-Cruz pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI automobile homicide, a second-degree felony. A third count of automobile homicide was dismissed as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to up to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

The Board of Pardons recently set Analco-Cruz's release date for December of next year. However, Analco-Cruz also had an immigration detainer placed on him since being incarcerated. His release is "contingent on being released to a detainer. Release is only allowed to the detainer," according to the board's written decision.

If Analco-Cruz is allowed to remain in Utah, several conditions were placed on his parole, such as driving vehicles only installed with ignition interlock devices.

Analco-Cruz would be released in 2029 if he serves his full time.

Samuel Andrew Rockwell

Samuel Andrew Rockwell, a former police officer, was also recently granted parole, but not until 2031. Rockwell's sentence is set to expire in 2038.

On Sept. 14, 2021, Rockwell — who was not on duty and had already been placed on suspension from his department — crashed while driving at an estimated 116 mph on Bangerter Highway near 13400 South. Emily Worley, 23, who was in the back seat, was killed. Rockwell was convicted of DUI automobile homicide and sentenced to 1 to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

During his parole hearing in September, Worley's family urged the board not to release Rockwell.

"The board considered your poor institutional behavior and/or major violations of prison rules as an aggravating factor," the board wrote in their decision.

Board members also took into consideration that after the crash, Rockwell "attempted to cover up (his) criminal behavior by claiming another person committed the crime."

Colton James Beed

The board also denied parole and scheduled rehearings for two other recent cases.

During his parole hearing in October, Colton James Beed said he was a "dumb young kid" and "high out of (his) mind" when he agreed to meet others at a Salt Lake City home to rob a known marijuana dealer who the group thought would be out of town.

By the end of the night on Jan. 12, 2019, 26-year-old Mason Hunt, who had served in the U.S. Marine Corps with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was shot and killed after being called by one of his roommates who was still in the Salt Lake City house to come help her.

"What sucks is the young girl who had to hide in the bathroom while a gang of men ransacked her house and she feared for her life. What sucks is that my brother came home to a gang of men going against him, and when he had them in a headlock because he was stronger than them, they shot him point blank. That's what sucks," LauraKay Hunt, Mason's sister, told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. "He had sacrificed his life for everyone in here to be shot point blank. And the excuse is, 'I made a bad choice and I was high.'"

Parole board members set a new hearing for Beed for 2028. Before then, Beed was ordered to get an updated mental health examination and participate in residential substance abuse treatment.

"The board considered your poor institutional behavior and/or major violations of prison rules as an aggravating factor," they wrote in their decision, while also noting, "The victim and/or victim's family expresses significant impact, financially, emotionally or physically, and does not support release."

Darren Neil Grueber Jr.

Darren Neil Grueber Jr. was 18 years old on Oct. 10, 2001, when he helped kidnap 36-year-old Don Dorton, beat and bound him with duct tape, and then took him to an area near 4100 South and 8400 West where he used an 87-pound rock to crush Dorton's head. He was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to a combined 20 years and up to life in prison.

"I was just an angry, broken kid," he said during his parole hearing. "(I was) taught that violence and fear was a way to gain respect from others."

During his parole hearing in September, Grueber talked about his problems after initially being sent to prison. The board also noted his recent years of not committing any disciplinary violations. But that good behavior has to be weighed against the severity of his crime and his early institutional behavioral problems, the board said.

Another parole hearing was scheduled for 2030. Until then, Grueber was ordered to participate in residential substance abuse treatment.