A father from Utah is facing a charge of attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another man 17 times, an attack he told police was motivated by remarks the victim made about his underage daughter.
Violent Confrontation in Wellington
Thad James Gurule, 32, is accused of luring an unnamed man to an industrial area in the small town of Wellington, Utah, and carrying out the brutal assault. According to a probable cause statement obtained by Fox 13, Wellington police were called just after midnight on 1 December 2025 following reports of a man covered in blood.
Officers quickly located the victim, who was found with "multiple stab wounds and lacerations throughout his body." He was subsequently transported to a specialised hospital for treatment. His current medical condition remains unknown.
Father's Confession and Motive
During an interview with investigators, Gurule stated he had met the victim a few days earlier at a local post office, where the man had made comments about his minor child. Gurule later conducted an internet search which led him to believe the individual was a sex offender.
The probable cause statement reveals that Gurule confessed he "intended to kill" the man in order to "protect his daughter." Police allege that after stabbing the victim repeatedly with a red knife, Gurule gestured for him to "think again before making comments about his daughter" before leaving the scene as the injured man lay on the ground.
Police Warning and Additional Charges
Following the alleged attack, authorities issued a stark warning against vigilantism. "Please don't take the law into your own hands like this," Wellington Police Department Sergeant Kevin Saccomano told Fox 13. "Please contact authorities any time you need us."
Gurule was booked into the Carbon County Jail on Wednesday, 4 December 2025. A search of his apartment in Price—located roughly six miles from Wellington—uncovered suspected marijuana and methamphetamine along with associated paraphernalia, leading to additional drug charges.
Public records indicate Gurule has prior convictions, having previously pleaded or been found guilty of drug offences and a disorderly conduct charge. The town of Wellington has a population of approximately 1,500 people and sits about 125 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
