Man accused of killing 2 Tremonton officers makes first court appearance
Aug 22, 2025, 9:09 AM | Updated: 1:41 pm
Ryan Michael Bate appears in court for the first time, accused of killing two police officers and wounding a third, among other charges, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Pool)
(Pool)
SALT LAKE CITY — The initial hearing for the man accused of fatally shooting two police officers in Tremonton began on Friday at 9 a.m.
Ryan Michael Bate, 32, faces 20 criminal charges, including aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and multiple counts related to domestic violence, explosives and weapons. State prosecutors have also announced their intention to seek the death penalty.
Bate appeared virtually from the Weber County Jail, where he was being held after his arrest Sunday night. He sat in an orange jumpsuit and looked at the floor as Judge Spencer D. Walsh read him his long list of charges, and told him the state planned to pursue the death penalty against him.
Ryan Michael Bate appears in court for the first time, accused of killing two police officers and wounding a third, among other charges, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Pool)
“The state of Utah has filed notice, and you are hereby on notice that they are seeking the death penalty for counts two and three, aggravated murder,” the judge told Bate.
Right from the beginning of Friday’s virtual court hearing, you could see Bate was clearly emotional, head down, at times sobbing, rocking and back and forth as the judge read the charges.
Bate informed the court that he was seeking to be appointed legal counsel for his case. Attorney Jonathan Nish, present at the hearing, said he had agreed to be Bate’s chief legal counsel. He named Attorney Mary Corporan as second chair for Bate’s defense. The court officially appointed the pair on Friday.
Walsh reiterated to the court that Bate was to remain held without bail, since “this is a capital felony, and there is substantial evident to support the charge.”
Bate’s newly appointed attorneys declined to immediately address the issue of Bate’s detention.
The judge also informed the court that the prosecution had filed a motion for a pretrial protective order stemming from Bate’s alleged offenses in May, 2024. That protective order would protect the alleged victim in that case from “any threats or acts of domestic violence, stalking (and) abuse,” Walsh said.
After Judge Brandon Maynard recused himself from the case, Walsh took over the case and conducted Friday’s hearing. Bate’s next court appearance is set for October 30th.
Bate was involved in domestic violence cases in 2021 and 2024 — the first of which Bate took a plea deal, meaning some of the current charges were heightened due to his previous conviction.
In a monthly conference on Thursday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox firmly supported prosecutors in their decision to seek the death penalty for Bate.
VIDEO: Accused cop killer Ryan Bate makes first court appearance:
This story is developing. It will be updated.
Resources for victims of domestic violence
If you or someone you know is going through abuse, help is available.
- The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
- Resources are also available online at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition website.
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah’s statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
