Utah parole board issues statement on capture of parole fugitive charged with murder

(KUTV) — The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole issued a statement to 2News Investigates regarding the recent capture of parole fugitive Noel Munoz Lopez in Mexico earlier this month. The parole board says it generally does not comment on pending cases. But that the Board issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Lopez on October 4, 2021, due to allegations of parole violations. The violations that included the allegation that Mr. Lopez was a suspect in the “senseless and tragic murder” of Farrell Bartschi. The Board’s statement further indicated, “Now that he is in custody, appropriate justice processes will take place.”

It’s a case 2News Investigates has been profiling in recent investigative reports:

• Parole fugitive, Noel Munoz Lopez wanted for murder of 82-year-old man
• Utah Department of Corrections accused of intentional records cover-up
• Suspect arrested in death of 82-year-old man killed while walking on sidewalk

The statement is from Board Chair Carrie Cochran, Vice Chair Marshall Thompson, members Greg Johnson, Blake Hills, and Melissa Stirba.

The Board of Pardons and Parole (Board) generally does not comment on pending cases. However, we can provide a brief summary of Noel Munoz Lopez’s history and current status.

Noel Munoz Lopez was a fugitive from Adult Probation and Parole’s Region III. The Board issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Lopez on October 4, 2021, due to allegations of parole violations. The violations included the allegation that Mr. Lopez was a suspect in the senseless and tragic murder of Farrell Bartschi.

Lopez was initially committed to prison on July 25, 2007, with several 2nd degree felony convictions, including an attempted homicide that left an individual paralyzed. His sentencing guideline recommendation for these convictions was 106 months, or just over eight and a half years. He was released on his only parole on March 23, 2021, after serving over 13 and a half years in prison, or six years more than the initial guideline recommendation.

At the time Mr. Lopez was granted a parole release, he had completed high school and had nearly completed substance use disorder treatment. He had also completed cognitive behavioral treatment and several additional life skills classes provided by the Utah Department of Corrections.

Now that he is in custody, appropriate justice processes will take place. Due to the allegations involved in the arrest warrant issued by the Board, a future hearing before the Board will occur to address the parole violation allegations. As Mr. Lopez is facing new criminal charges, the Board may delay any hearing until new criminal charges are resolved.

Noel Munoz Lopez had been on the run since October 4, 2021, after 82-year-old Farrell Bartschi, on his morning walk in West Valley City was gunned down. The probable cause statement written by West Valley City Police Detective N. Johanson indicates Lopez was identified as the person who was standing outside the residence at 4222 West 3875 South as Bartschi was walking past on his morning walk when Lopez fired three shots at Bartschi. It further states that one of the shots struck Bartschi in the torso. The PC statement also reads that Lopez was on parole and a restricted person in possession of a firearm, “Which he used to kill an unarmed man who posed no threat to LOPEZ.”

What’s more, Lopez’s relatives came outside and confronted Lopez and then tried to render aid to Bartschi who died at the scene. Lopez got in his car and left. The firearm was not recovered from the scene or from the house. Lopez’s car was later found abandoned according to West Valley City Police Department Public Information Officer Roxeanne Vainuku.

Charging documents show, Dr. Nicole Stanley with the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Bartschi and determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death to be homicide.

2News Investigates received a text message on June 16th from Bartschi’s daughter, Kim Dixon telling us that Lopez had been captured in Mexico. West Valley City Police confirmed that was the case. The Salt Lake County District Attorney filed charges against Lopez last year, weeks after the murder on October 28, 2021, which include murder, a first-degree felony, purchase, transfer, possession, or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, and two counts of felony discharge of a firearm, both third-degree felonies. But the charges were under seal. The information and warrant of arrest were unsealed on June 17th.

2News Investigates obtained offender supervision history maintained by Adult Probation and Parole on Lopez earlier this year. Notes from his parole agent, Drew Johnson reveal details about his behavior prior to the murder.

We are not identifying Lopez’s sister. The first entry was at 1:24 p.m.

“Received a call from his sister ******. She reports they had a big argument and he left at 0300 in the morning. He is not answering her calls as of today and she says she is very concerned for him. She stated he left in his white car.”

The supervision notes were updated at 4:35 p.m.

“Contacted sister again as I have not heard anything from Noel. I asked her if the argument was physical at all, or if she could elaborate. She says he started sending her weird messages ***** *** ******** ** *** *******. She knocked on his door to ask if they could talk and he went outside with her. They talked for a little while, then he got out of his chair and left. She though [sic] he went out to his car, but when she went out the car was gone. She says she is very concerned.”

2 News Investigates previously reported that Lopez had been given a verbal reprimand after testing positive for methamphetamines less than two months before Bartschi’s murder. On August 6th, parole agent Jeffrey Hansen noted that Lopez admitted to snorting meth on August 4th “Due to being overwhelmed with his parole and feeling like he is a burden on people.” The violation severity level was categorized as “MEDIUM” (Substance Abuse) in violation of his parole agreement and was noted in offender track, the department’s primary database. The agent gave Lopez a “Verbal Warning” and his supervisor who is not named in the document, approved it on August 13th.

The Utah Department of Corrections website shows Lopez is incarcerated at the state prison in Gunnison. Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Vincent Meister is prosecuting the case for the State. There is no defense attorney listed on record yet on Court Xchange for Lopez. His initial appearance is scheduled for June 30th from prison.