This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two men have admitted their roles in the meat-cleaver killing of an Ogden woman last year, which was followed by setting her home on fire to try and cover up the homicide.
Danny Allen Reyes, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree felony counts of murder and aggravated arson for the Aug. 6, 2006, slaying of 35-year-old Teresa Axbom.
In exchange for his pleas, third-degree felony evidence and witness tampering charges were dismissed.
Reyes faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced June 19 by 2nd District Judge Scott Hadley.
Co-defendant Dean Jason Imlay, 27, pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and was sentenced immediately to a five years to life prison term.
Third-degree felony counts of evidence tampering and desecration of a dead human body were dismissed against Imlay.
During a preliminary hearing last year, a witness testified she saw Reyes, who had a screwdriver, struggling with Axbom, who had a meat cleaver.
But Reyes grabbed the cleaver and began chopping at Axbom's head and neck, according to testimony. To conceal Axbom's body, Imlay helped Reyes start a fire that burned Axbom's body almost beyond recognition.
Police investigators testified that both defendants confessed to the arson, but Reyes claimed Imlay was the killer. Reyes, however, had left a phone message with a friend saying he had killed someone.
The charges dismissed against Reyes allege he told a third party to lie to police and to give him an alibi.
- Stephen Hunt