This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Cedar City • A Cedar City man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in 5th District Court to first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife in 2009 and will be sentenced on Feb. 1.
Tristan Jared Lamoreaux, 25, faces 15 years to life in prison for killing 19-year-old Misty Lamoreaux at their Cedar City apartment. A third-degree felony charge of possession of a firearm by a restricted person and a class A misdemeanor of failing to stop for police were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.
Misty Lamoreaux's body was found on the bathroom floor of the couple's apartment next to a lit cigarette and with a lighter in her hand. She had been shot five times in the head with a handgun.
During a preliminary hearing in December 2009, Detective Mike Bleak said, the defendant told investigators his wife was "freaking out" and took the loaded gun out from under a pillow and attempted to kill herself by placing the barrel under her chin.
Lamoreaux told police he wrestled with her, trying to get the gun away, when it went off several times and she dropped.
Vicky Smith, who lived in a neighboring apartment, testified she called 911 after hearing screams and several gunshots. She said one of the bullets came through the wall of her apartment.
When police arrived at the apartment, Lamoreaux was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.