Man with mental capacity of child accused of fatally attacking resident at Orem group home

A man authorities say has the mental capacity of an 8-year-old has been charged with killing another resident at an Orem group home where they were staying.

Brandon James Hooks, 38, was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; and three counts of assault, class B misdemeanors.

Police were called to the group home, located at 113 E. 800 South in Orem, shortly after 7 a.m. on Sunday to find the other resident, Timothy Dastrup, unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The facility serves as a care home for those with intellectual disabilities, according to a probable cause statement explaining Hooks’ arrest. The document does not name the facility.

It’s unclear if the group home is licensed; the facility’s address is not included in a Utah Department of Health and Human Services list of licensed Orem care facilities. A request for more information from DHHS was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.

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