News Story: Pinder Exclusive Interview
Question: "JOHN, DID YOU KILL THOSE TWO PEOPLE?" " NO!" "YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU DIDN'T KILL THEM?" "I DIDN'T KILL THEM, NO!"
Late last night, rancher John Pinder came to KSL, saying he had no part in the grisly deaths of two people on a remote ranch in western Duchesne County.
But today he faces two charges of first-degree murder. And authorities desperately want to find him. News Specialist Keith McCord has more.
Pinder called us late last night, saying he wanted to tell us his side of the story. This interview took place before the murder charges were filed and the arrest warrant issued.
Pinder claims there's a lot more to this story than just the murders, and that he fears for his life.
PINDER: "I'M ALREADY DEAD. I'M DEAD RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE."
John Pinder is angry, scared, and says he wants to set the record straight!
In a rambling hour-long interview with KSL, Pinder denied his involvement in the double murder, and claims he's the target in a much bigger web of crime, illegal drugs, and government cover-up.
As for the victims, Pinder knew them.
PINDER: "I WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH REX TANNER. HE WORKED FOR ME AND MY FATHER AT THE RANCH. JUNE FLOOD USED TO BE ONE OF MY SECRETARIES."
Pinder, and the woman he's travelling with, say he was in Salt Lake when the murders occured, and first heard about them when relatives left messages on his telephone answering machine.
Police believe Pinder is the man behind the two bizarre killings, which have shocked residents of the Eastern Utah ranchlands.
Officers have yet to fully recover the victims' remains, believed scattered by dynamite along the banks of the Strawberry River.
There was early speculation that body parts may have been fed to Simba, Pinder's pet lion -- police now discount that theory.
Pinder says he's being framed because he has inside knowledge of a massive drug trafficking operation in Eastern Utah.
PINDER: "WE HAVE BAD BAD PEOPLE IN THERE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING US AND I AM ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT WILL TAKE THE INITIAITIVE STEP FORWARD, AND CALL BULLSHIT ON IT."
Pinder, who runs a ranch with his father, was planning on moving to Idaho...in hopes of taking some of the pressure off the rest of his family. Plus he says, he's afraid of going back--fearing for his life.
PINDER: "I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. I'M MOBILE. THE CAR IS OUR MOTEL. 09 WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
Duchesne County authorities are aware of our interview with Pinder.
Pinder's lawyer told Eyewitness News that Pinder does intend to turn himself in to Duchesne County authorities, but he said Pinder is afraid for his life and won't surrender until he's certain he will be safe.
