The arrest warrant, signed by a Fifth District Court judge, accuses him of an attempted murder charge in connection to the death of his wife, Arenda Lee McCulla, 47, who passed away in December 2021.
In Utah, DeWayne McCulla, 45, faces an attempted murder charge for allegedly trying to end his wife’s life, nearly two years after her passing due to cancer
The affidavit by La Verkin police officer Steve Johnson details the events leading to the accusation. According to Johnson, DeWayne admitted to placing his hand around Arenda’s neck in an attempted murder charge to expedite her passing as she was under hospice care for cancer. However, conflicting reports emerged from other family members who intervened during the attempted murder charge for the alleged incident.
Anthony Michael Ryder, Arenda’s son, recounted the distressing moment, describing how DeWayne initially appeared to be comforting his mother but then attempted murder charge for allegedly choking her aggressively. Ryder and another family member intervened, trying to stop DeWayne’s actions, resulting in a prolonged struggle lasting about 20 minutes.
Arenda’s terminal illness, Ryder highlighted that his mother was relatively comfortable before the attempted murder charge for the alleged attack
However, the incident caused her significant distress, accelerating her demise. Arenda had expressed a desire to travel to Oregon, known for providing lethal medications to terminally ill patients, as part of her end-of-life plans. The family had even initiated an online fundraising campaign to support her journey and document her final moments.
Expressing frustration over the delay in legal action, Ryder acknowledged a sense of relief that the arrest warrant had finally been issued, signaling progress in the case. However, as of the latest update, information regarding McCulla’s custody status remained unavailable, with no immediate comments from Washington County prosecutors or La Verkin police representatives.