On a tragic night in Salt Lake City, Utah, two-year-old Tevita Puniani Maile, a male, lost his life in a devastating incident that would forever alter his family. The night of May 26, 2018, ended in sorrow when police were called to a home at 2782 S. Fair Isle Lane around midnight, responding to a report of a gunshot. Upon arrival, they discovered the young boy unconscious on the ground, his father's shirt stained with blood.
Despite efforts to save him, Tevita was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
The investigation into the young boy's death revealed a heart-wrenching scenario. Tevita's father, Tasman William Maile, told authorities that he had been asleep with a handgun next to him. He was jolted awake by the sound of a gunshot. According to court documents, Tasman Maile regularly slept with the firearm under his pillow, fully loaded and with the safety off, within easy reach. It was this unsecured weapon that the toddler found and tragically used on himself.
In the aftermath, Tasman William Maile was arrested and faced the legal consequences of his son's death. Initially charged with child abuse homicide, a second-degree felony, he later pleaded guilty in July to a reduced charge of negligent homicide, which is a class A misdemeanor. In addition to this, he also pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, three counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and drug distribution. During an emotional sentencing hearing, Maile expressed deep remorse for his actions, telling the judge about the immense pain he had endured. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for time already served. The judge acknowledged that no amount of jail time could compare to the punishment the father had inflicted upon himself.
