Troy Michael Kell was born on June 13, 1968. 

Troy Kell, while serving a life sentence in Utah State Prison, committed a second murder on July 6, 1994. He attacked fellow inmate Lonnie Blackmon in the prison yard. Kell stabbed Blackmon a total of 67 times. During the attack, another inmate, Eric Daniels, helped hold Blackmon down, making it easier for Kell to inflict deadly wounds.

Kell’s actions led to serious charges, and due to safety concerns, his trial was conducted inside the prison. The prosecution argued that the murder was racially motivated, as Kell, a known white supremacist, killed Blackmon, who was African American. Kell was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death by firing squad.

In 2003, he came close to being executed but chose to appeal his sentence instead. As of April 2024, he continues to remain on death row, awaiting the outcome of his appeals.