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IN THE THIRD DISTRICT COURT - ALL DEPARTMENT

IN AND FOR SALT LAKE COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
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AFFIDAVIT FOR SEARCH WARRANT
STATE OF UTAH )
:ss
County of Salt Lake )
The undersigned affiant, Detective CORDON PARKS of Salt Lake City Police
Departme, upon an oath or written affidavit subscribed under criminal penalty,
declares:
That your affiant has reason to believe:
THAT
On the premises known as 574 North East Capitol Street, Salt Lake City
Utah, further described as A single family home located on East Capitol Street at
574 North. This is a multiple level structure with stone walls on the lower level and
wood shingle siding on the upper levels. It is located on a house lot between East
Capitol Street on the east and East Capitol Boulevard on the west. It is the first
house lot north of a white brick apartment complex at 201 East Girard Street.;
In the City of Salt Lake City, County of Salt Lake, State of Utah, there is now certain
property or evidence described as:
Security system hard drive, or any
Electronic storage device attached to home security system.
and that said property or evidence:
Was unlawfully acquired or is unlawfully possessed;
has been used or is possessed for the purpose of being used to commit or
conceal the commission of an offense; or
is evidence of illegal conduct.
Affiant believes the property and evidence described above is evidence of the crime
or crimes of Aggravated Arson
- Page 1 of Affidavit for Search Warrant No. 1450874 -

Aggravated Homicide.
The facts to establish the grounds for issuance of a Search Warrant are:
Your affiant has received training and certification from the Utah Peace Officers
Standards and Training Academy. Your affiant has over 35 years of police
experience, including 23 years in investigations. Your affiant is currently assigned
to the Salt Lake City Police Homicide Squad and has the responsibility to
investigate homicides that occur in and around Salt Lake County.
1. On May 22, 2016 at 02:23 the Salt Lake City Police and Fire Departments were
called to a house fire at 574 North East Capitol Boulevard in Salt Lake City.
2. Firemen heard a man calling for help when they arrived. The Fire Department
found John Williams on the top level of the home. He was brought out of the
burning house, but died at the scene.
3. A neighbor reported there were two married men living at 574 North East
Capitol Street; John Williams and Craig Crawford. At around 02:23 Craig Crawford
pounded on her door and windows and asked for her help. Craig Crawford told
her his house was on fire. She exited her house, saw the flames coming from 574
North. She dialed 911 and reported the fire. Craig Crawford walked back to the
house and was last seen walking up the driveway.
4. Firemen searched the house and did not find Craig Crawford. The fire looked
suspicious. Arson investigators were called to the scene. Arson investigators
determined the fire was probably an arson and an accelerant appeared to have
been used.
5. The Salt Lake Police Department was called. A search warrant was obtained to
search 574 North for evidence. An accelerant can was seized. your Affiant noted
there was significant fire damage to the house. The main level was destroyed by
fire. The sheet rock ceiling was damaged and fell from the ceiling, the walls were
damaged and burned away. All surfaces were covered in ash and soot. The Fire
Department reported the residence was hazardous to be inside.
6. The south wall of the main floor was burned away.
7. Your Affiant had a conversation with Michael B. Higgins on May 24, 2016.
Mr. Higgins reports he was the Information and Technology manager for John
Williams at Gastronomy, a business owned by John Williams. Mr. Higgins reported
he was an employee of Williams for 20 years. Mr. Higgins was personally
acquainted with Williams and he helped Williams with all his technology problems.
8. Mr. Higgins told your Affiant that around May 9, 2016, John Williams asked
Higgins to help him with a personal security problem at 574 North East Capitol
Street. Mr. Williams was going through a divorce with Craig Crawford. Mr. Williams
wanted to change his locks at 574 North East Capitol Street to keep Craig
Crawford out of the house. Higgins met Williams at the house and with the help of
a locksmith, changed all the locks in the house and changed the codes to work the
electronic locks, and changed the alarm code. All this was done because Williams
was fearful of Crawford.

- Page 2 of Affidavit for Search Warrant No. 1450874 -

9. Williams asked Crawford to meet him at an AT&T store in Salt Lake City to
assist in buying a home surveillance system. Higgins responded to the store and
helped Williams select a camera system. The surveillance system was installed
by AT&T personnel.
10. Higgins assisted John Williams in getting the surveillance system operational
and connecting it to Williams cell phone and Higgins cell phone. Higgins reports
there was one camera that was mounted above the kitchen door on the south
wall of the home (destroyed by the fire). The system had a recording device that
was kept in the sun room on the north/east corner of the residence. Data from the
camera was stored on a hard drive or other storage device in "the box."
11. Higgins told your affiant that the storage device is equipped with a battery and
is designed to record even after power is lost. Higgins checked the system on
his own cell phone and found the storage device was active on May 22, 2015 at
17:00, long after the fire was put out.
12. Your Affiant prays for an order from this court to enter 574 North East
Capitol Street and recover the electronic storage device from the home security
surveillance system. Data on the recorder would be useful in the investigation.
This affidavit has been reviewed by Jeff Hall of the Salt Lake District Attorney Office,
and it has been approved for presentation to the court.
WHEREFORE, your affiant prays that a Search Warrant be issued for the seizure of
said items.
I declare under criminal penalty of the State of Utah that the foregoing is true
and correct.
Executed on: 24th day of May, 2016 @ 03:40 PM by /s/ CORDON PARKS

- Page 3 of Affidavit for Search Warrant No. 1450874 -

_________________________________________________________________
IN THE THIRD DISTRICT COURT - ALL DEPARTMENT
IN AND FOR SALT LAKE COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
_________________________________________________
SEARCH WARRANT
No. 1450874

COUNTY OF SALT LAKE, STATE OF UTAH

To any peace officer in the State of Utah:
Proof by Affidavit made upon oath or written affirmation subscribed under criminal
penalty of the State of Utah having been made to me by Detective CORDON PARKS
of Salt Lake City Police Departme, this day, I am satisfied that there is probable cause
to believe
THAT
On the premises known as 574 North East Capitol Street, Salt Lake City
Utah, further described as A single family home located on East Capitol Street at
574 North. This is a multiple level structure with stone walls on the lower level and
wood shingle siding on the upper levels. It is located on a house lot between East
Capitol Street on the east and East Capitol Boulevard on the west. It is the first
house lot north of a white brick apartment complex at 201 East Girard Street.;
In the City of Salt Lake City, County of Salt Lake, State of Utah, there is now certain
property or evidence described as:
Security system hard drive, or any
Electronic storage device attached to home security system.
and that said property or evidence:
Was unlawfully acquired or is unlawfully possessed;
has been used or is possessed for the purpose of being used to commit or
conceal the commission of an offense; or
is evidence of illegal conduct.

- Page 1 of Search Warrant No. 1450874 -

Affiant believes the property and evidence described above is evidence of the crime
or crimes of Aggravated Arson
Aggravated Homicide.
YOU ARE THEREFORE COMMANDED:
to make a search of the above-named or described person, vehicle, item, and/or
premises for the herein-above described property or evidence and if you find the same
or any part thereof, retain such property in your custody subject to the direction of a
prosecutor or an order of this Court.

Dated: 24th day of May, 2016 @ 03:52 PM /s/

- Page 2 of Search Warrant No. 1450874 -

RETURN TO SEARCH WARRANT

NO. 1450874
The personal property listed below or set out on the inventory attached hereto was
taken from the person of 574 North East Capitol Street, by virtue of a search warrant
dated the 24th day of May, 2016, and issued by Magistrate PAIGE PETERSEN of the
THIRD DISTRICT COURT - ALL DEPARTMENT:
One AT&T/Cisco Security System
Model DLC-100
Serial Number 123115050
I, Detective CORDON PARKS of Salt Lake City Police Departme, by whom this warrant
was executed, do swear that the above listed or below attached inventory contains a
true and detailed account of all the property taken by me under the warrant, on the
25th day of May, 2016.
All of the property taken by virtue of said warrant will be retained in my custody subject
to the order of this Court or of any other court in which the offense in respect to which
the property, or things taken, is triable.

I declare under criminal penalty of the State of Utah that the foregoing is true
and correct.
Executed on: 25th day of May, 2016 @ 11:41 AM by /s/ CORDON PARKS

- Page 1 of Return of Service for Search Warrant No. 1450874 -