Homicide of 54-year-old gay man remains unsolved nearly 60 years later

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Almost six decades later, the homicide of a 54-year-old Salt Lake City man remains unsolved.

On Oct. 23, 1966, Spence Mendenhall, 54, was found shot to death inside his apartment at 222 L Street in the Avenues, Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification records show.

The death of a bachelor

According to a BCI case file, Mendenhall was single gay man who lived alone. However, he reportedly had many intimate friends.

It is believed that Mendenhall maintained his sexual orientation a secret. Documents indicate he paid several men to not disclose it. • (Courtesy//Family Search) • (Courtesy//Family Search) • (Courtesy//Family Search)

Reporting by the Salt Lake Tribune from 1968 indicates Mendenhall was found lying on his back between the house's bathroom and hallw