Blake Bostic, a popular chef who worked restaurants in Summit County, stood six-feet nine-inches, making him an imposing figure -- physically, at least. But in April, he died following an apparent fight at a Frisco motel.
Recently unsealed court records reveal more about the specifics of that incident, including alleged comments by Charles Sattler, a semi-pro mixed-martial-arts fighter who's been charged in the case, about the power of his punches and the possible impetus of a disagreement with Bostic: a bottle of hot sauce.
Sattler hails from Michigan, where friends organized an online fundraiser that collected more than $2,000 on his behalf. An introduction on the item reads in part, "This...is all for Chuck.... I love you, man."
Likewise, Bostic was well-liked in his community. The Summit County Journal quoted numerous pals and colleagues referring to Bostic as a "gentle giant."
What happened leading up to his death?
At about 2:20 a.m. on April 14, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Vail Daily, Frisco Police Department personnel responded to the town's Snowshoe Motel on a report of a fight in progress.
Upon their arrival, they found a man later identified as Bostic laying in the Snowshoe's rear parking lot. Before long, he was found to have died as a result of his injuries.
The Summit County coroner subsequently determined the cause of death as a result of blunt force trauma to his head and neck -- the sort of injuries typically associated with a physical altercation.
A second man, Ryan Stevens, was on top of Bostic when the cops turned up. The Daily notes that he "appeared intoxicated and also displayed signs of recovering from being recently knocked unconscious."
A short time later, Sattler and a man identified as Charles Upchurch approached officers working the scene. The affidavit quotes them as saying the men had encountered the other twosome at a Frisco restaurant called Ollie's Pub & Grub before heading to the Snowshoe, where Sattler and Upchurch were staying, to drink and smoke some marijuana.
There, a fight broke out, and while the document doesn't offer specifics, Sattler mentioned Bostic selling Upchurch what's described as "several bottles of homemade habanero hot sauce or jelly."
Continue for more about the death of Blake Bostic and the arrest of Charles Sattler, including more photos. The affidavit's narrative says Sattler told investigators, "The jelly is what started this whole thing."
Sattler, for his part, insisted that he'd acted in self-defense. But he also mentioned that he "hits like a champ," noting to Upchurch at one point, "I do damage when I hit somebody, huh?"
The affidavit says Upchurch then turned to the officers. "Don't you know who this is?" he asked before providing the answer: "That's Chuck Sattler. He's a pro fighter."
The Daily amends that to "semi-professional." However, press clippings from 2002 describe him as having been named the light heavyweight division winner in the Toughman World Championship series.
Later, officers asked Sattler if he'd punched Bostic or Stevens. His reply, as recorded in the affidavit: "I could have hit them. I know I hit the big dude and after that, who knows. I snapped. If I snapped, I don't know what the (expletive) I did."
In the end, Upchurch avoided charges. However, Sattler was cuffed, jailed and accused of second-degree murder and third-degree assault. He's got a hearing on June 26, at which point prosecutors are expected to ask for a $250,000 bond.
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Our condolences to Bostic's friends, family and loved ones. Here's a look at Sattler's booking photos.
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More from our Schmuck of the Week archive: "Stephen 'Gaterwolf' Ketcher, ex-pro wrestler, accused of wrestling with underage girl."
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