Utah Agency Criticized Following Three Client Deaths
A state report highlights oversight failures at a care provider after three residents died while left in a vehicle.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Special Needs
The Disability Law Center released a report criticizing the Utah Department of Health and Human Services for oversight failures that contributed to the deaths of three men in February. The state has since revoked the license of the service provider, Safe and Sound Services, following the incident.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that gaps in state inspections allowed high-risk providers to operate without adequate accountability for individuals with complex needs. The department is now reevaluating its oversight processes to prevent problematic agencies from securing state contracts.
A report titled Profits Over People documents that three individuals died after being left in a vehicle for approximately four hours. Inspections revealed that the department frequently conducted oversight remotely or when no clients were present, failing to detect unsafe housing conditions.
The players
Disability Law Center
An advocacy organization that works to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in Utah.
Utah Department of Health and Human Services
The state agency responsible for overseeing and licensing residential care providers for residents with disabilities.
Isaiah Vaughn Pulu
A transport driver who faces three counts of murder in connection with the abandonment of clients.
Safe and Sound Services
A former state-contracted service provider whose license was revoked following the fatal incident.
The details
Prosecutors allege that driver Isaiah Vaughn Pulu left the victims—Colton Warren Moser, Mosa'ati Moa, and Tim Jones—unattended in a vehicle in his garage for four hours. The state's investigation found that the provider site previously operated without heat or running water, and some staff admitted to locking residents in a basement. Although the department had previously identified missing background checks, the driver had only been reprimanded for a prior instance of client abandonment one month before the fatal incident.
Timeline
January 2026: The transport driver was reprimanded for client abandonment.
February 2026: Three clients died while in the care of the service provider.
September 21, 2026: The Disability Law Center released its report.
Health Landscape
This incident exposes critical vulnerabilities in the state's regulatory framework for disability services. It marks a shift from passive inspection protocols toward more rigorous requirements for agencies serving populations with complex care needs.
Families managing care for individuals with disabilities may want to ask their provider for copies of recent state inspection reports. It is worth discussing with your doctor how to identify reputable facilities and verifying the credentials of any outside agency providing transport or residential services.
The takeaway
Systemic oversight issues can significantly impact the safety of residential and transport care for vulnerable populations. Families should prioritize regular check-ins and verify the status of state licenses for any organization providing care services to their loved ones.
Further reading
For more information on navigating disability support systems, explore our Special Needs resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPVI.
