Richmond, UT (October 14, 2026) – Five people were found dead on Saturday, October 10, at a triplex apartment complex in Richmond.
An adult from an adjoining apartment was taken to the hospital for possible carbon monoxide exposure. Richmond Fire and emergency units were called to the building at 12:15 p.m.
According to early reports, the carbon monoxide alarms had been sounding "for an extended period" by the time emergency units arrived. A neighbor had already found a male in the garage who appeared to be deceased.
Four others were found deceased inside. Ages of those who died were 43, 16, 12, 11, and 5.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the five lives lost.
Landlord Safety Duties for Rental Homes in Richmond, UT
Renters in Utah usually assume that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are the landlord's job, but responsibility can depend on the lease, the building, and Utah's rental laws.
Utah's Fit Premises Act requires landlords to keep rental units fit for people to live in, and building and fire codes can add specific requirements for alarms and fuel-burning equipment. What a property owner must provide and maintain can vary with the age and type of the building.
A property owner can face a premises liability claim when a hazard exists that the owner knew about or should have discovered through reasonable inspection and failed to address in a timely way. Tenants and families may be asked to show what the owner knew, which is why records carry so much weight.
Lease terms, written maintenance requests, inspection reports, alarm test logs, and repair invoices can all show what was done or not done and when. Rental properties can be repaired, cleaned, or re-rented quickly, so a wrongful death lawyer can help people identify which records exist, request them, and keep them from being lost.
When carbon monoxide exposure leads to a death in a rental home, a wrongful death claim may help a family seek answers about who was responsible for keeping the property safe. In Utah, the claim can be brought by the deceased person’s heirs or the estate’s personal representative, generally within two years.
Questions about what a landlord or property owner must maintain in a Utah rental can be hard to sort out alone. At Cutt, Kendell & Olson Attorneys at Law, we can walk through how premises liability principles may apply to your circumstances.
You can reach Cutt, Kendell & Olson Attorneys at Law at (801) 901-3470 to speak about your case with our team. We are here to guide you through the process.
Note: This post is based on information obtained from publicly available secondary sources. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, Cutt, Kendell & Olson Attorneys At Law has not independently verified all details of the incident reported. If you notice any inaccuracies or missing information, please contact Cutt, Kendell & Olson Attorneys At Law so we can promptly review and update the content.
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