WEST VALLEY CITY -- The son of a man found dead inside his West Valley
City home has been arrested in connection with the death.
Police booked William Chad Seager, 31, into the Salt Lake County Jail
Sunday night for investigation of murder and obstruction of justice.
Police say Seager, who goes by "Chad," got into a verbal and physical
altercation with his father, 58-year-old William M. Seager, that
ultimately resulted in his father's death.
William Chad Seager Chad Seager called 911 Sunday to report his
father's death, saying he returned home from a trip to find his father
dead at the bottom of the stairs in his home.
Police now say the son returned home from the trip, got into a fight
and caused some sort of injury to his father's head. Police say the
suspect tried to cover up what happened, but ultimately called police.
Sgt. Mike Powell with the West Valley City Police Department said,
"The son had tried to remove the body, at some point, so that it
wouldn't be discovered. When he realized he couldn't do that, that's
when we received the call that he was reporting his father had been
deceased."
Court documents say Seager drove to Wendover and back before calling
authorities.
Police aren't saying what the argument was about, only that Chad had
cooperated with police during the investigation. Sunday night they had
enough evidence to arrest him for murder and obstruction of justice.
Neighbors KSL spoke to Monday morning didn't know much about Chad but
say he moved in with his father a few weeks ago to get back on his
feet. Many of them are in disbelief about the death of their neighbor.
Reginald Smith said, "I have no idea if it was an accident or foul
play, but it's very shocking that it would be him. He's very friendly,
very nice, and a hard worker."
Another neighbor, Rick Paterson, agreed. "He was laid back, just about
the same every day. He didn't get upset, didn't seem to be stressed
out or frustrated about anything and would take life as it came."
Neighbors say William M. Seager retired a few years ago from
installing sprinklers at businesses around the state. They say he was
very kind and will be missed.
Police are still waiting for a report from the medical examiner for
the exact cause of death.
