Utah stories spoke to residents at Philips Plaza about concerns they had over the building management three days prior to a murder of Ralph Hoffman that occured there.
According to sources, the Salt Lake Housing Authority manager was not conducting wellness checks and she was allowing for rotting bodies to be left for days. In addition, homeless drug addicts were getting into the building.
Ralph Hoffman was a senior with, “the mental capacity of a twelve-year-old” who was according to other residents taken advantage by a homeless drug addict.
The murder of Ralph Hoffman raises a number of questions that remain unanswered.
How were unauthorized individuals able to gain access to the building?
Were adequate security measures in place to protect residents?
Was Hoffman receiving the level of supervision and support his circumstances required?
Who was ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable residents?
Utah Stories contacted the Salt Lake Housing Authority seeking answers to these questions. As of publication, the agency had not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Watch the podcast below, which includes footage of Phillips Plaza residents discussing building conditions, security concerns, and the circumstances surrounding the death of Ralph Hoffman.
While many questions remain about conditions inside Phillips Plaza prior to Hoffman’s death, the facts surrounding the homicide itself have been reported by local news outlets.
According to the news reports, on the morning of May 25, 2026, Salt Lake City police responded to a report of a body found on a sidewalk near 1700 South and 300 East. Officers discovered a deceased man wrapped in garbage bags, plastic sheeting, a shower curtain, and duct tape lying beside a utility cart. Witnesses told investigators they had seen a man pushing the cart through the neighborhood before it tipped over, spilling its contents. The man reportedly fled the scene on foot.
The Utah State Medical Examiner later ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. Investigators identified the victim as Ralph Hoffman and traced the case to his apartment, where they found evidence of a violent struggle, including overturned furniture, an overturned mattress, missing household items, and possible bloodstains.
Police arrested 47-year-old Bentley Estelvin Scow, who had reportedly been living with Hoffman and was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with him. According to local news reports, investigators allege that an argument between the two escalated into a deadly assault. News reports further state that investigators believe Scow attempted to dispose of Hoffman’s body after the killing. Authorities allege Hoffman suffered for an extended period before dying.
Scow has been charged with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and abuse or desecration of a human body. The case remains pending in Salt Lake County court.
Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing Utah Stories investigation into conditions at Phillips Plaza. A forthcoming article will feature interviews with residents who describe life inside the building, concerns about security and oversight, and their experiences with Ralph Hoffman in the days and months before his death.
