Man stabbed his aunt's boyfriend before fleeing the apartment to go buy more beer, thinking he was just fine

Inset: Deon Jennings (West Valley City Police Department). Background: The Aspenwood Apartments in West Valley City, Utah (Google Maps).

A Utah man who fatally stabbed his aunt's boyfriend after an argument is headed to prison.

Deon Jennings, 35, was convicted by a jury in August of stabbing his aunt's boyfriend, 59-year-old Willie Houston, to death, but jurors told the court they believed Jennings acted in "imperfect self-defense." According to courtroom coverage by local NBC affiliate KSL, the jury reduced the charge from murder to manslaughter.

Police said they responded to a call from the Aspenwood Apartments in West Valley City, Utah, on April 30, 2022, and found Houston on a kitchen floor, bleeding from his back and neck. He identified Jennings as his attacker before he was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

According to KSL's reporting, Jennings fled the scene after stabbing Houston, with whom he had an argument earlier that day. The two men fought over who should leave, and Houston eventually left the apartment, where he lived with his girlfriend, Jennings' aunt. When Houston returned, Jennings stabbed the older man, who then ran out the front door of the apartment.

Jennings told police he did not believe the older man was badly hurt, so he never considered calling 911. Jennings then left the scene to buy beer.

According to charging documents obtained by KSL, West Valley City police named Jennings as a suspect in Houston's killing a few days later. Jennings called the police but did not provide a location. He was later found by police at his apartment, where he told officers, "There was no arguing that I wanted to hurt him."

KSL reported that during a 2023 hearing, Jennings changed his story and claimed he acted in self-defense but did not intend to hurt Houston. In March 2026, another judge ruled that the prosecution would have to specifically disprove Jennings' claim of self-defense, but said there was enough evidence to prove that the stabbing was not justified.

During Jennings' sentencing on Wednesday, his attorney argued for a reduced sentence. Jennings spoke in court and expressed remorse, saying, "I think it would be very important to explain that I regret the events that took place." He added, "What happened was absolutely unacceptable, and he didn't deserve that."

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Houston's niece told the court that Jennings had no remorse and would not have contacted police if not for her urging. She said, "I called him repeatedly, I reached out to him repeatedly and I connected the dots between that. It was never him."

Prosecutors argued that Jennings deserved prison time that was consistent with the jury's verdict.

The judge sentenced Jennings to one to 15 years in prison with credit for 1,659 days spent in the Salt Lake City Jail.