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Suspect in Kearns homicide arrested

Posted at 5:29 AM, Jun 03, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-03 10:48:29-04
Mug shot: Douglas Evans

Mug shot: Douglas Evans

WEST JORDAN, Utah — A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Kearns, according to a statement from the Unified Police Department.

Police responded to a home near 5400 S Nez Pearce Dr. around 6 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of the shooting.  Upon their arrival, officers found the body of 49-year-old Theodore Kelbach.

According to Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder, Kelbach had been shot at point blank range.

Unified Police announced the arrest of 31-year-old Douglas Evans early Tuesday morning.

“We believe that a predominant motive in this case was a relationship issue that revolved around the girlfriend of Mr. Evans and Mr. Kelbach,” Winder said in a press conference early Tuesday morning. “We believe there was a jealousy situation involved and Mr. Evans believed erroneously that Mr. Kelbach has a relationship with this young lady and we believe he reacted to that.”

According to a press release, police believe Evans went to the back door at Kelbach’s home, where they engaged in a short argument before the shooting.

“We have significant physical and eyewitness evidence right now that we believe is quite strong,” Winder said.

Detectives located Evans in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn in West Jordan at some point late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Evans was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Watch FOX 13 News and fox13now.com for updates.