Judge lifts ankle monitor requirement for man charged in fatal road rage case

Family and loved ones put together a memorial for Patrick Hayes near the Ross Creek area of the Jordanelle after he was shot by Greg Kyle DeBoer in September of 2024. Photo: TownLift // Marina Knight

HEBER CITY, Utah — A 4th District Court judge has removed the ankle monitor requirement for Greg Kyle DeBoer, the Summit County man charged with felony obstruction of justice following the fatal shooting of Patrick Hayes during a road rage incident last fall.

DeBoer had been required to wear an ankle monitor for four months after his release on bail in December. At Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Jennifer Mabey agreed with DeBoer’s defense attorney that he is not a flight risk and granted the request to remove the monitor. Mabey said the decision could be reversed if DeBoer violates protective and no contact orders currently in place.

DeBoer, 62, admitted to fatally shooting Hayes, 61, near the Ross Creek entrance of Jordanelle State Park on September 25, 2024. He claimed self-defense, stating he feared for his life during the confrontation. Following the incident, DeBoer did not call 911 and allegedly buried the firearm used in the shooting near his Browns Canyon home, leading to the obstruction charge.

Wasatch County prosecutors declined to file homicide charges, citing insufficient evidence to disprove DeBoer’s self-defense claim beyond a reasonable doubt. Surveillance footage from the park’s gatehouse captured the moments leading up to the shooting, showing Hayes exiting his vehicle and approaching DeBoer’s Jeep Gladiator before the fatal shot was fired.

The decision not to pursue homicide charges has sparked frustration among Hayes’ family and community members. Hayes’ son, Christian Hayes, filed a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit against DeBoer, alleging that DeBoer provoked the confrontation and attempted to conceal assets to avoid financial liability.

DeBoer’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 4.