Carbon County, UT: Identities released in alleged Carbon County murder-suicide

By bob mims

The Salt Lake Tribune

First published 1 hour ago
Updated 18 minutes ago Updated Aug 30, 2011 02:33PM
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday identified the victim and alleged perpetrator in an apparent murder-suicide that left the son of a prominent central Utah ranching family dead.

Sheriff James Cordova issued a statement identifying the victim of the Sunday night shooting as Tate Jensen, 31. His purported killer, believed to have shot himself to death, was identified as Jacob Milchak, 24.

The incident occurred at 10:57 p.m. Sunday at a residence on Wood Hill Road in Price. Deputies responding to a “shots fired” call found Jensen dead inside the home. Outside, a short distance away from the residence, deputies located Milchak, also dead, “with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Cordova said.

A woman inside the home apparently at the time of the initial shooting was able to flee to a nearby parking lot, where deputies found her uninjured. Cordova did not identify her.

The sheriff did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment beyond his prepared statement, which did not further detail the nature of the injuries sustained by Jensen and Milchak.

“The incident remains under investigation by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, although at this time the evidence indicates this incident is a murder-suicide,” the sheriff stated.

Jensen’s parents, Butch and Jeanie Jensen, own Tavaputs Ranch, a popular 10,000-acre working cattle operation and tourist attraction 50 miles east of Price. Tate Jensen worked at the ranch.

The family did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.