Tyson F. Tew, a 32-year-old Caucasian male from Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2017. Born in Rexburg, Idaho, on July 7, 1984, he grew up in Idaho Falls and was a loving father, husband, son, and brother. He was known for his love of the outdoors, including hunting, camping, and riding ATVs.
On the afternoon of his death, Tew went to the apartment of his friend, Justin Sarbaum, reportedly agitated after a domestic dispute.
The two men, along with another individual, were playing darts when Tew accidentally hit Sarbaum in the toe with a dart. Though they initially laughed it off, the mood later soured. Sarbaum claimed that Tew became destructive, throwing darts into a door and cabinets. After Sarbaum asked him to leave multiple times, he alleged that Tew attacked him, pulling him to the ground and punching him repeatedly.
Sarbaum, a military veteran, claimed he shot Tew in self-defense. However, the investigation revealed inconsistencies with his account. A forensic pathologist found that Tew had been shot three times: once in the back of the right armpit, once in the center of the back, and once in the right hand. The autopsy also showed no injuries to Tew's hands that would suggest he had been in a physical altercation as described by Sarbaum. Investigators concluded that Tew was shot while trying to retreat.
Justin Sarbaum, then 37, was initially charged with second-degree murder. He later entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. During the sentencing, Tew's family members gave emotional victim impact statements, describing the profound loss and devastation his death had caused. Sarbaum offered a tearful apology to Tew's family, expressing his deep regret. In March 2018, a district judge sentenced Sarbaum to 20 years in prison.
