Background: News footage of Terence Trent Vos being cross examined in court (KUTV). Inset: Shandon Scott (Myers Mortuary).
A Utah man who admitted during a jailhouse phone call that he made up a story about his girlfriend’s killer was found guilty of her murder.
In a press release on March 21, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced the conviction of 35-year-old Terence Trent Vos for the murder of his 32-year-old girlfriend, Shandon Scott in May 2021. Gill detailed that the trial lasted six days, during which Vos was cross-examined by the prosecution, with the exchange captured by local CBS affiliate KUTV. Prosecutors questioned Vos about a phone conversation he had with a friend while in jail, where he confessed to having a dispute with Scott that evening, leading to him shooting her.
Gill, in the same release, recounted the events of May 1, 2021, when Unified Police responded to reports of a car accident in Salt Lake County. Upon arrival, witnesses informed the police that they saw Vos behind the wheel and Scott in the passenger seat, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Vos allegedly attempted to steal a witness’s vehicle but was thwarted in his efforts. As officers reached the scene, Vos fled on foot, as per Gill’s statement.
Shortly after fleeing, officers apprehended Vos and took him into custody. During questioning by detectives, Vos shifted blame, alleging that two other men were responsible for Scott’s shooting, a narrative he also tried to maintain while testifying. However, during cross-examination, particularly noted at the 19:57 mark of KUTV’s coverage, Vos was reminded of his conversation with a friend while in custody, where he mentioned Scott was attacking him, resulting in him shooting her. Vos acknowledged on the stand that he indeed made those statements over the phone.
The prosecutor read from a transcript, quoting Vos, who said, “It was like we started fighting, I don’t even remember what it was about. But then she started stabbing me, and I just… I shot her.” Again, Vos confirmed, “I did say that.” He also admitted on the stand, “I did not have any stab wounds.”
When read back what he said to his mother on the phone while in custody, the prosecutor said that he told his mother, “I had made some whole other s— up.” Vos denied that, and the prosecutor ended her questioning.
KSL, an affiliate of NBC, reported that an autopsy on Scott’s body revealed that she had been shot 12 times before the car crash.
Vos was convicted of one count of first-degree felony aggravated murder, three counts of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury, one count of first-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person, one count of second-degree felony obstructing justice, and one count of class A misdemeanor failure to stop at command of law officer. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23.
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