This episode dives into the life and crime of Troy Kell explaining his journey from a troubled youth to a life sentence in prison. I’ll discuss the impact of his first murder at 18 transformation , he underwent while incarcerated and the subsequent murder of another inmate the conversation highlights the complexities of prison life, the consequences of violent actions that challenges of rehabilitation within a criminal justice system
Sources on Troy Kell's Murder of Lonnie Blackmon (1994)
- "KELL CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED MURDER" — Deseret News (June 22, 1996)
https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/22/19250263/kell-convicted-of-aggravated-murder/
- "ACCUSED KILLER TESTIFIES HE WAS THE REAL VICTIM" — Deseret News (June 20, 1996)
https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/20/19249800/accused-killer-testifies-he-was-the-real-
victim
- Utah Supreme Court decision - KELL v. STATE (2008)
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ut-supreme-court/1221445.html
- Justia case for Kell v. State (post-conviction context)
https://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/2008/kell090508.html
- Utah Supreme Court rejects appeal (2023 news)
https://www.ksl.com/article/50830932/utah-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-from-death-
row-inmate-for-4th-time
Sources on the 1986 Murder of James "Cotton" Kelly
- "KELL'S PARTNER IN CRIME DESCRIBES '86 MURDER" — Deseret News (June 27, 1996)
https://www.deseret.com/1996/5/27/19251113/kell-s-partner-in-crime-describes-86-
murder/
- Troy Kell entry on Wikipedia (summary of both cases)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy Kell
- Murderpedia entry on Troy Kell's crimes
https://murderpedia.org/male.k/k/kell-troy-michael.htm
- Review-Journal article referencing the 1986 "show-and-tell" murder and later life
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/man-guilty-in-vegas-show-and-tell-case-faces-ch/
- People.com piece on Sandy Shaw (participant in the 1986 murder) (contextual background about the victim and case
https://people.com/show-and-tell-killer-dubbed-sandy-shaw-speaks-out-pardoned-
11826955
Additional Legal Context
- State of Utah v. Kell (2002 Utah Supreme Court opinion) - long form details of the second murder trial
https://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/2002/kell-tm.html
Federal court procedural document (2024 filing)
https://www.govinfio.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-utd-207-cv-00359/pdf/USCOURTS-utd-
2 07-cv-00359-6.pdf