MIDVALE, UTAH — A woman is dead following an alleged domestic assault in Midvale on Sunday, July 21, and authorities have arrested Leituono Falaniko, 31, in connection with her death. According to the Unified Police Department, Falaniko was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, after the victim succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.
The investigation began around 8:20 a.m., when officers responded to a report from Alta View Hospital. A nurse there informed police that a woman had been dropped off by an unknown individual, claiming she had been assaulted by her boyfriend in the road. The woman was visibly injured, with an abrasion on her hip and a cut to her lower lip that required stitches.
Meanwhile, police discovered that nearly an hour earlier, at 7:30 a.m., they had responded to a welfare check near 7350 S 900 E, in front of Hillcrest High School. A witness there reported seeing a man, later identified as Falaniko, assaulting a woman inside a parked dark blue sedan. The witness described seeing the woman trying to fight off her attacker, kicking at him while he allegedly punched her multiple times, then forced her into the passenger seat before driving away.
Officers later linked the welfare check to the hospital incident after noting the matching vehicle and suspect descriptions. The witness had also provided a photograph of the suspect’s car, which aided the investigation.
While at the hospital, the woman reportedly told family members that her boyfriend had repeatedly punched her in the face during an argument. Moments later, she began experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing. She collapsed suddenly in the hospital room and was pronounced deceased by medical staff. Officials noted that the victim had no known medical conditions that would have contributed to her death.
Security footage from the hospital revealed that the woman had been dropped off in a Chevrolet Impala registered to Falaniko, driven by a large man matching his description. The driver left immediately after dropping her off.
Later that day, police conducted surveillance at Falaniko’s residence and located him near the road with a gym bag, appearing to wait for a ride. Officers moved in and took him into custody without incident. During questioning, Falaniko admitted to getting into an argument that turned physical and confirmed he was the one who dropped the woman at the hospital.
Falaniko is currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail. The investigation remains active, and authorities continue to gather evidence to determine the full circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
Anyone with additional information about this case is encouraged to contact the Unified Police Department.
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