Former Hill Air Force Base employee fatally stabbed in Dominican Republic

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Salt Lake City man was found fatally stabbed in the Dominican Republic Saturday.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, Jon Xanthos, 62, of Salt Lake City was found with fatal stab wounds in the Dominican Republic. Xanthos’ family confirmed the death to ABC4.com Tuesday morning.

A spokesperson with the U.S. State Department confirmed reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Sosúa, Dominican Republic. The spokesperson said the department is providing consular assistance to the family.

“He was just a good guy,” a close relative of Xanthos, who asked not to be identified, said. The family was contacted by an official in the Dominican Republic who informed them of Jon’s passing.

According to the relative, Xanthos spent his junior high and high school years in Arizona. However, most of his life was spent in Utah.

“He was actually born in Salt Lake,” Xanthos’ relative told ABC4.com. “He liked to ski and mountain bike. He was athletic… and competed in the highest level of racquetball.”

The Xanthos family says his Jon graduated from Brigham Young University before taking a civilian job at Hill Air Force Base in computer science.

According to Xanthos’ relative, he was likely in the Dominican Republic on vacation, which was increasingly common for him since his retirement about 10 years ago. Jon reportedly traveled often to collect precious gems and metals.