Delta man charged with 2 counts of murder in stabbing deaths of parents

DELTA, Millard County — A 26-year-old man accused of stabbing his parents to death is facing a mandatory sentence of 25 years and up to life in prison if convicted.

Rett Mikel Riding, 26, of Delta, was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated kidnapping, all first-degree felonies.

Rett Riding is accused of killing his parents, Patricia Smith Riding, 69, and Neal Jeffery Riding, 62, on Saturday night.

Just before 11 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a call from a woman saying her son, Rett Riding, "was being erratic and had taken herself and her husband hostage. She stated Rett was trying to put them in a shed but that she had gotten away to call 911," according to charging documents.

Patricia Riding pleaded for someone to respond quickly "because her son was acting out. She then screamed and said, 'He's coming.' There appeared to be a struggle between the male subject and the female prior to the call going quiet," the charges state.

A Millard County sheriff's deputy arrived at the house five minutes later and went to the front door, but no one answered. He then spotted Rett Riding in the driveway.

"The deputy asked Rett who else was at the home, and Rett stated there was no one. The deputy observed blood on Rett's hands and his pants. The deputy then observed a male victim on the south deck/porch lying on the ground, apparently unconscious," according to the charges.

At that point, the deputy drew his gun and placed Riding in handcuffs.

Emergency crews determined both Patricia and Neal Riding had been stabbed, the charges state.

"During the investigation, which is ongoing, a large kitchen knife was located just inside of the residence near the doorway to the porch, covered in blood," according to charging documents.

Investigators learned that the day before the assaults, Patricia Riding had sent a message to another family member stating, "Rett was beginning to be very erratic and (she) mentioned being scared," the charges state.

Neal Riding was a 26-year member of the West Millard Sheriff's Posse Search and Rescue Team.

Rett Riding is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court Wednesday morning. If convicted, a charge of aggravated murder comes with a potential sentence of a minimum of 25 years in prison and up to life.