On a tragic day in Duchesne, UT, the life of 14-year-old Malaki Porter, a White / Caucasian male, was cut short on September 22, 2024. Known for his adventurous spirit and love for the outdoors, Malaki was a young man who had overcome health challenges early in life to embrace passions like bull riding, fishing, and hunting. He was described as having a heart of gold, always willing to help others.
The devastating incident that led to his death unfolded in northwest Duchesne County, stemming from an argument with his 16-year-old stepbrother, Haegan Sagers.
The argument between the two stepbrothers escalated into a physical confrontation involving a firearm. In the aftermath, Malaki was found with a fatal wound to his upper body inside their home. Authorities quickly took Haegan Sagers into custody in connection with the shooting. The investigation that followed pieced together a troubled relationship between the two boys, with some reports suggesting Sagers had expressed a desire to harm his stepbrother in the time leading up to the fatal encounter.
Haegan Sagers was charged as an adult with murder and discharge of a firearm causing serious injury. During legal proceedings, conflicting accounts of the shooting emerged. Sagers' defense initially claimed that Malaki had come at him with the gun and it accidentally discharged during a struggle. However, this narrative later shifted, with prosecutors asserting that Sagers had taken the gun from Malaki and, intending to hurt but not kill him, pointed it at his shoulder and fired. The prosecution's account suggested the act was not premeditated but was the result of anger.
Ultimately, Haegan Sagers, then 17, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. In July 2025, he was sentenced to a term of two to 15 years in juvenile detention and prison. At the sentencing, Malaki's mother expressed the immense pain of losing both her son and stepson in one day. While she still cared for Sagers, she emphasized the need for him to be held accountable for his actions. Sagers, in turn, expressed remorse, stating how sorry he was and that he and Malaki should have talked through their problems.
