Family launches legal fundraiser for Utah dad charged with stabbing sex offender who ‘made comments’ about minor daughter

Thad James Gurule, 32, was arrested after the sex offender was found covered in blood on a porch in Wellington, Utah on Monday, December 1, according to 2KUTV. The stabbing had left the sex offender with life-threatening injuries. The sex offender also admitted to meeting Gurule at the post office a few days prior.

The Gurule family has set up a GoFundMe in relation to the case. The fundraiser page, which has a goal set of $7,000, states, "Help Us Secure Legal Representation for Thad Gurule During a Life-Changing Crisis. His family is facing an overwhelming and heartbreaking situation. Thad is currently battling a case for defending his family. We are asking for help to ensure he has a fair chance in court, with a qualified attorney who can fully present the circumstances, the evidence, and the context behind what happened. Everyone deserves proper legal representation."

Gurule initially denied the stabbing but later admitted to the assault on the sex offender. Police said that Gurule had gone to the sex offender's apartment and invited him to grab a bite to eat prior to the stabbing. "He confessed, stating that he intended to kill [the sex offender] to protect his daughter” after the registered sex offender made comments about his minor daughter at the post office, police said.

The sex offender said that when Gurule stabbed him, the father leaned over and told him to think twice before talking about his minor daughter. Police said the sex offender was then left on the ground.

Gurule is facing the attempted murder charge as well as drug charges after police said they found methamphetamine as well as other drug paraphernalia during a search. Gurule was later booked into Carbon County jail.