Salt Lake City, UT: Suicidal man killed at lake had family problems, dad says Abuse allegation » 'Despair -- pure and simple'

By Nate Carlisle
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:11/06/2009 07:16:38 AM MST

A Utah County man who picked up a gun and charged at deputies this week had health problems and was getting a divorce, his father said.
Todd B. Hainsworth, 50, was not trying to hurt the deputies; he wanted them to kill him, said his father said.
"I harbor no animosity toward them," said Brad E. Hainsworth. "I think they were doing what they were trained to do."
On Tuesday, Todd Hainsworth called a police dispatcher and said he took 60 pills and was suicidal, according to Utah County sheriff's Lt. Darren Gilbert. Several gunshots were then heard over the phone, and the line went dead.
When deputies located him near Lincoln Beach on the south side of Utah Lake, Todd Hainsworth rammed one of the cars and drove away, Gilbert said. The deputies pursued his vehicle for about two miles before Todd Hainsworth stopped, got out of car with a handgun and began threatening deputies, Gilbert said.
The officers shot and killed him. Both are on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Utah court records show Todd Hainsworth's wife of 20 years filed a protective order against him in late August alleging cohabitant abuse. Two weeks later, she filed for divorce. Those proceedings were pending on Tuesday.
"What drove him to this was a very nasty divorce, and he suffered," said Brad Hainsworth. "She literally made him leave and would not allow him access to the house; would not allow him access to the children. And at the same time he lost his job."
Todd Hainsworth had two teenage children and worked as a carpenter. Todd Hainsworth's wife could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
Also earlier this year, Todd Hainsworth had to be hospitalized for a bacterial infection in his abdominal cavity, his father said. The infection was painful and there was a threat it could return, said Brad Hainsworth.
Brad Hainsworth said he had no indication his son was suicidal, but asked him to leave his guns at his parent's home in Kanab. Brad Hainsworth said he was concerned about the guns' safekeeping because Todd Hainsworth did not have a good place to store them.
"What lead him into that situation [with the deputies] was despair -- pure and simple," Brad Hainsworth said.
ncarlisle@sltrib.com