DELTA, UT — A Millard County couple was found dead after a late-night 911 call in which the wife said her son had taken them hostage, according to investigators. Deputies later arrested 26-year-old Rett Mikel Riding on suspicion of two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.
Authorities said the call came in just before 11 p.m. Saturday from Patricia Smith Riding, 69. She told dispatchers that her son had become erratic and that he had tried to force her and her husband into a shed before she managed to get away and call for help. The sheriff’s office described the scene as highly violent and aggressive.
911 call described fear and a struggle at the home
According to a booking affidavit, the call grew more frantic as the situation unfolded. Patricia Riding reportedly screamed during the call and then said, “He’s coming.” Investigators wrote that there appeared to be a struggle between the male and female subjects before the line went quiet.
The affidavit says the call gave deputies their first real-time indication that the situation at the home had turned dangerous. It also says Patricia Riding was worried enough to contact authorities after saying Rett Riding was erratic and that she feared what might happen next. That information became a key part of the timeline deputies used when they arrived at the residence minutes later.
Deputy arrived minutes later and found blood on the suspect
The first responding deputy reached the property about five minutes after the 911 call, according to the affidavit. There, the deputy found Rett Riding in the driveway and asked who else was inside. The affidavit says Rett Riding replied, “No one.”
Investigators said the deputy saw blood on Rett Riding’s hands and pants. Moments later, the deputy spotted a man lying unconscious on the south deck or porch and ordered Rett Riding to the ground at gunpoint. The sequence of events in the affidavit suggests officers arrived while the scene was still active and had to move quickly to secure the area and assess who was injured.
Both parents were pronounced dead at the scene
Millard County Sheriff Steve O’Camb identified the man found near the porch as Neal Jeffery Riding, 62. O’Camb said Neal Riding had spent 26 years with the West Millard Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue. Deputies attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Patricia Riding was also pronounced dead where deputies found her, authorities said. The affidavit states that both victims had stab wounds. Investigators also said a large kitchen knife was recovered just inside the residence near the doorway to the porch, and that it was covered in blood.
Charges include murder and kidnapping as investigators continue reviewing evidence
Rett Riding was booked Saturday night for investigation of two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Those allegations stem from the deaths of both parents and the hostage-related claims made in the 911 call. Authorities have not said whether additional charges are expected.
The sheriff’s office has not released a motive. But the affidavit includes an earlier warning sign: on Friday, a family member received a message from Patricia Riding saying Rett was becoming very erratic and that she was scared. That detail may prove important as detectives work to piece together what happened before the emergency call and what led to the deadly confrontation.
Family warning on Friday came before the deadly Saturday night call
Investigators said the family had reason to be concerned before the incident ever reached the 911 stage. The affidavit notes that a relative received a message from Patricia Riding on Friday in which she said Rett was acting increasingly erratic and that she was frightened. That message suggests tension had been building inside the household before deputies were called.
Authorities have not said how long the conflict may have gone on or what, if anything, led to the escalation inside the home. What they have said is that by the time deputies arrived, one man was already unconscious on the porch and both parents were dead from stab wounds. The case remains under investigation by Millard County authorities.
