A jury found a Duchesne County woman Guilty of Murder last week in 8th District Court. On October 8th, the jury found 39-year-old Kristy Lee Whitchurch Guilty of 1st Degree Felony Aggravated Burglary, 2nd Degree Felony Aggravated Assault, and 1st Degree Felony Murder in the death of Sherry Lynn Melo. Whitchurch was “arrested on November 13th, 2018 after a witness came forward and told investigators Whitchurch was directly involved in the April 6th, 2018 assault that resulted in the death of 51-year-old Melo.” There were five people charged the previous April with Aggravated Murder in the assault. The Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office reported at that time that the group “went to the front door, which was open with only the glass storm door closed. They broke the glass out and entered the house, chasing [two] victims out of the house and then assaulted them both outside the home…The man and woman [Sherry Melo] were taken by ambulance to the hospital where medical staff determined [Melo] had bleeding on her brain…[Melo] told investigators one of the female suspects hit her in the head with a bat.” Melo succumbed to her injuries from the assault and passed away in a hospital in Provo. Charges against those implicated were amended from Attempted Murder to Murder. Whitchurch was charged with 1st Degree Felony Murder, 2nd Degree Felony Aggravated Assault, and 1st Degree Felony Aggravated Burglary. On September 9th, 2019, Whitchurch pleaded Not Guilty to each charge. With the jury finding Whitchurch Guilty, all that is left is her sentencing. A live sentencing has been scheduled for November 16th in 8th District Court. Following the jury’s determination, Whitchurch was remanded to the custody of the Duchesne County Jail. The others that participated in the assault are facing a mixture of similar charges. 37-year-old Thomas Neil Tuinman, 35-year-old Stephanie Tuinman, 32-year-old Michael Wallace Tuinman, 32-year-old Samantha Tuinman, and 31-year-old Byron Rashad Thompson were all implicated and charged. Samantha Tuinman entered a Guilty plea on October 7th, 2019 to 2nd Degree Felony Manslaughter and has not been sentenced. The others have pending court cases.
