Jeremy Pulver loved his father, he said. But that love did not stop the 48-year-old Utah man from allegedly trying to suffocate John Pulver with a Walmart grocery bag before grabbing a hatchet and beating the 72-year-old to death inside their West Valley City home.
A Salt Lake City jury found Jeremy Pulver guilty of murder on Wednesday after just four hours of deliberations, according to local NBC affiliate KSL. The verdict marked the end of a trial that centered on competing narratives: a son claiming self-defense against a meth-addicted father who allegedly asked to be killed, and prosecutors portraying a calculated killer who was the true aggressor.
Background
The elder Pulver, John, 72, had been living with his son in West Valley City when the killing occurred sometime in 2024. According to court documents, Jeremy told investigators that his father had asked him to "take him out" because of his elderly condition and mounting health issues.
"Jeremy said he worked up the confidence to kill John, and early this morning he went to John's room," according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate KTVX. "When he entered John's room, he found John lying in bed. Jeremy said he was ready to kill John."
During his testimony, Jeremy Pulver described the moments leading up to his father's death with apparent anguish.
"I feel devastated," Pulver testified, according to KSL. "I feel a tremendous amount of, of pain and uh, regret that I even got there. I also felt like, wow, I can't believe this happened."
He added: "I love my dad very much."
The Investigation
Prosecutors laid out a starkly different account of events than the defense narrative. According to authorities, John Pulver died from blunt force trauma after being struck repeatedly with a hatchet inside his own bedroom.
"Jeremy was certainly the aggressor," prosecutors argued during trial, according to KSL.
The investigation revealed that Jeremy Pulver had allegedly strangled his father and attempted to suffocate him before turning to the hatchet. Defense attorneys claimed their client acted in response to what they described as a meth-induced rage John Pulver was experiencing at the time of the killing.
"He felt like someone was going to use it," defense attorney Melinda Dee said during trial, referring to Jeremy's claim that he felt a gun his father was holding, which made him fear for his own life. "So he reacted."
Prosecutors presented evidence that Jeremy Pulver was under the influence of methamphetamine when the killing occurred.
"He was certainly under the influence of meth when this was all taking place, which explains his belief that he was acting reasonably in attempting to suffocate and then strangle and then take a hatchet to his father," prosecutors said, according to KSL.
Jeremy Pulver claimed his 72-year-old father "fought back harder than [Jeremy] ever would've expected" during the attack.
The Charges
Beyond the murder conviction, Jeremy Pulver was found guilty of multiple charges stemming from that night and the subsequent investigation. These included obstruction of justice, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before reaching its verdict in Third District Court in Salt Lake City.
Key Takeaways
- Jeremy Pulver was found guilty of murdering his father John Pulver, 72, inside their West Valley City home
- Prosecutors alleged the son used a Walmart grocery bag to attempt suffocation before attacking with a hatchet
- The defense claimed Jeremy acted in self-defense against a meth-impaired father who had asked to be killed
- Jeremy Pulver testified that he loved his father and felt "horrible" about what happened
- Prosecutors argued Jeremy was under the influence of methamphetamine during the killing
- A jury found him guilty after four hours of deliberations in Salt Lake City
What's Next
Jeremy Pulver is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, when a judge will determine his punishment for murder and related convictions. The case has sparked discussion about family violence, addiction, and the complexities of self-defense claims within intimate relationships.