A real estate agent from Utah was allegedly shot dead while he was trying to evict tenants – and his family claimed to believe that he had been put together.

Three people were arrested on Saturday in connection with the death of a real estate agent from Utah who, according to police, was reportedly shot dead while he was trying to evict tenants in an apartment in Salt Lake City.

The three arrested were arrested early Saturday. hours after detectives and friends searched the city in search of the 40-year-old victim, they learned just before 11 pm Friday, David Stokoe never left the apartment near the 900, East and Princeton Avenue, spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police, Sgt. Greg Wilking said.

Police found Stokoe's body in a semi-hidden crawl space, then focused on finding his missing Cadillac Escalade, in addition to the tenants of the apartment.

Stokoe's mother, Diane, and her half-brother Dean Belov said Saturday night at the Salt Lake Tribune that they thought David Stokoe had been installed by a tenant who was taking advantage of their landlord.

Wilking said that Stokoe, originally from southern Jordan, was probably killed on Thursday during his visit to the apartment. . He had been missing from the police in southern Jordan about this time and the Salt Lake City police had been implicated after searching the apartment on Friday and found evidence that made them "very anxious" for his well-being.

and arrested Manuel Velasquez, 31 years old; Jessica Miller, 38; and Diana Hernandez, 30, in front of an apartment in South Salt Lake after a brief stalemate Saturday around 6am.

According to court documents, Velasquez and Miller reportedly rented the apartment in Stokoe and reportedly had problems with him, saying that he "exceeded his legal rights by entering the apartment without permission" [the renters’] ]. . "

Stokoe had told Velasquez and Miller that they had to leave the apartment before 6 pm. Thursday, court documents said. Velasquez told the police that he and Stokoe had quarreled when Stokoe had arrived the same evening. Velasquez said that Stokoe had opened the door and that Miller had said that during the fight to make sure he put Velasquez in a "very serious" choking.

Velasquez told the police that while he was under control, he had seized a handgun inside the backpack that he was . According to court documents, Stokoe was repeatedly wounded and shot by wounds

Later, Miller, Velasquez and their friend Hernandez all reportedly cleaned the apartment and hid Stokoe's body.

However, Diane Stokoe and Belov stated that David Stokoe did not need it. Anyway, he would not have done that because he had an appointment with Miller on Thursday at 8:30 to collect the rent. Belov said that Miller was staying in the apartment without paying rent or apologies for not paying.

David Stokoe, said Belov, went beyond Miller's expectations and gave him the benefit of the doubt, even going as far as bringing Miller to the bank to cash a rent check, only for the bouncing back

Belov said Wednesday, David Stokoe had enough and was going to evict Miller, who apparently was letting other people stay in the apartment.

David Stokoe went to the property on Wednesday. Belov said he called the police to support him, but they did not arrive early enough and he spoke to the tenants himself. He made an appointment Thursday at 8:30 am, and the police arrived as he was leaving.

Belov does not know exactly what happened when David Stokoe arrived at the apartment on Thursday morning, except that his half-brother was killed. a little after. He doubts the story of Velasquez and says that David Stokoe was a great man capable of taking care of himself, but he did not want to fight.

"Sometimes you hear this thing," No good deed goes unpunished, "said Belov." Well, here's a good example of that. "

Velasquez was charged with murder and" murder. " obstruction of justice, but also detained by a person with restricted access and sentenced to death by the court, a firearms offense.Millin and Hernandez have both been accused of obstruction of justice. 19659002] Court records show that Velasquez has been convicted of several crimes since 2008.

Police found Staloe Escalade in West Valley City about two hours after his arrest Velasquez, Miller and Hernandez After interrogating the couple, Wilking said the police did not think she was related to the homicide.One of them was sentenced to prison because of a violation of the parole.

The Stokoe family issued a statement s amedi tonight about his death, reported FOX 13.

"Our heart is shattered by Dave's loss," reads the statement. "This situation is tragic beyond words, but we remember Dave as he deserves to remember, as a hero and champion."

Statement says family chooses to focus on remembering Stokoe and tries not to stay behind.

In conclusion, he said, "We are very grateful for the love and support we have received through prayers, services, emails, messages and messages. We feel your prayers and appreciate the outpouring of love and charity from friends, neighbors and strangers. "

A GoFundMe account was created to support the family from Stokoe. He leaves behind his wife, Nikki, and their four children.

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