How Could You? Hall of Shame-Malachi Portwood case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

A 2023 case has come to light.

From Bluffdale, Utah, an autistic 16-year-old Malachi Portwood [group home resident] was “shot and killed by police after stealing a U.S. Army van was initially told that her son went missing from a library in West Jordan prior to the shooting.🔫 😳

But in a text message sent to managers of the care facility where her son had actually walked away from — after she “learned the story about the library was made up” — she stated, “You mean to tell me he was missing since the morning?!? There was no library?!?! MY SON IS DEAD!!!!! A simple ‘firing’ will not be justice for my son!,” according to a search warrant affidavit.

The warrant, unsealed Tuesday in 3rd District Court, says the Utah Attorney General’s Office is continuing to investigate “allegations of patient abuse/neglect and providing false information to police” regarding the case of a 16-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Sandy. A similar search warrant was served in April 2024. The boy’s name has not been released, and he has only been identified in court documents as M.P.

On Nov. 9, 2023, the teen allegedly stole a U.S. Army van from a recruiting station at 814 E. 9400 South. An officer who was in his own personal vehicle saw what was happening and followed the van while calling 911. Near 12600 South and Bangerter Highway, South Jordan police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the boy fled, and officers did not pursue, according to police.

Police again spotted the van near 9400 South and 700 East. As the van approached Monroe Street, an officer got out of his car to prepare to deploy tire spikes. But as the vehicle was waiting in traffic to make a left turn, the officer called out to the driver at gunpoint to get out of the van, according to body camera video.

Instead, the boy made a U-turn and began driving into oncoming traffic. Moments later, he hit a motorcyclist, who suffered serious injuries.”

“The boy, who had autism, had been placed in a residential group home in Bluffdale, Future Rising Agency LLC, the day before the shooting. He had a history of sneaking out of group homes. Because of that, his support plan by the state “had a number of security/safety recommendations for Future Rising to follow, which included having locks and alarms on all doors and windows and being supervised 24/7. The (plan) instructed Future Rising to call police, a guardian, and the support coordinator as soon as possible after elopement. It also states that staff should follow and try to find (the teen) as soon as possible,” according to a pair of search warrant affidavits served by the Utah Attorney General’s Office over the past 10 months.

Investigators say that on Nov. 8, 2023 — the same day the boy moved in — a support coordinator for the teen walked through the group home “and noticed the home did not have alarms or locks installed.” The coordinator was told the alarms would be installed the next day, and she “reported telling the staff member at the time to not let (the teen) out of their sight until the alarms and locks were installed,” according to one affidavit.”

“The Utah Attorney General’s Office also learned during the course of the investigation that one of the staff members who was working the morning the teen disappeared had reported seeing the boy between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. That employee “admitted falling asleep during the night … (and) explained he thought it was OK for him to sleep during the night as long as the client was sleeping,” according to the affidavit.”

Several employees and directors of the company were later charged with neglect and evidence tampering.

Group home employees lied about teen who escaped and was killed by police, warrants say
[KSL 2/26/25 by Pat Reavy]

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