Marc hacking

The search for Lori at the landfill was expected to last about a month but would take much longer than initially anticipated. Several thousand tons of compact garbage more than 30 to 40 feet deep and two soccer fields in length needed to be rifled through by volunteers, Court TV reported in a September 15, article.

Cadaver dogs were also used to help in the search. The Court TV article stated that there were 38 volunteers including, police officers, firefighters, public safety officials and Urban Search and Rescue Team members who helped look for human remains at the World Trade Center. They spent on average 11 hours a day, four days a week conducting the backbreaking search. The crew, dressed in steel-plated boots, coveralls, thick leather gloves, masks and protective eyewear, combed through the rank trash using pitchforks, yet eventually resorted to digging through the garbage with their hands, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

All of those involved believed that their time and effort is well spent, even though many are uncertain if they'll ever find Lori's remains. We are hopeful we can find the body but we believe this case is strong enough that we could prosecute without it," Howlett reported in the August 3 USA Today. The prosecution's case was indeed strong. Mark's confession to his brothers would likely be admissible at trial and be particularly damaging to the defense case.

The material evidence against Mark was also damaging to the defense case. Investigators have genetically matched Lori's blood to that found in Lori's car, on the couple's bed rail, headboard and mattress, as well as the blood found on the bedroom carpet and the knife found in its sheath in the kitchen, which was believed to have been used to cut up the mattress.

Investigators also discovered a letter allegedly written by Lori days before her death, which said, "I hate coming home from work because it hurts to be home in our apartment The article further quoted Lori as saying, "I got someone I don't want to spend the rest of my life with unless changes are made. Furthermore, prosecutors were compiling video evidence of Mark.

One surveillance video showed him entering a Maverick County Store to buy cigarettes, checking his hands and fingers and then driving away in his wife's car approximately "18 minutes after the time police believe Lori died," CNN stated in an August 4, article.

Other video evidence that may be used at trial will likely include images of Mark disposing of Lori's body in a dumpster and video of him driving her car to the park, where he initially said she had gone missing. It was initially believed that the prosecution team, led by Salt Lake County D. David E. Yocom, Deputy D. Angela F. Micklos and attorney Robert L. Stott, would seek the death penalty in their case against Mark. However, the prosecution decided instead to file a first degree murder charge against the defendant, which carries a possible penalty of five years to life in prison, Reed reported in an August 9, AP article.

Reed claimed that the absence of Lori's body prompted the decision. Moreover, he suggested that the prosecution team would not file a homicide charge to account for Lori's unborn baby because police were unable to confirm she was pregnant.

On August 16, Mark, accompanied by his lawyer, D. Gilbert Athay, appeared before 3 rd District Court Judge William Barrett to schedule a date for his preliminary hearing.

Stephen Hunt wrote on August 18 that when he appeared in court he was "wearing a bullet-proof vest and flanked by seven bailiffs. The preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 23, According to the Salt Lake Tribune , Athay may ask the court to "inquire into Hacking's mental competency.

Hunt reported that Mark fell from a roof in his early 20s, which resulted in a head injury and "because evidence of brain damage could support an argument for reduced charges," it will likely be used at the preliminary hearing and trial. On August 27 "a series of investigative subpoenas was unsealed" dating from July 21 to August 30 th , which showed how "detectives cast a broad net early in their investigation of Lori's disappearance," Canham stated in the Salt Lake Tribune.

The subpoenas included surveillance videos of a Morman church located near the park and from the University Neuropsychiatric Institute, cell phone and financial records, television footage of Mark on July 19 and 20 th taken by local TV stations, and credit reports. Before the preliminary hearing, the defense and prosecution teams will have to scour through all the evidence and find material that will help support their cases.

If the defense team is unable to produce a strong enough case there is a chance that they might settle for a plea agreement. Hunt and LaPlante quoted Salt Lake City defense attorney Mark Moffat who said, "You want to assess the strength of the prosecution's case and strength of any defenses to know if an offer is appropriate.

As the case prepares to go to trial, Lori's family, friends and colleagues mourn her death. More than people attended the service, which included a display of Lori's "wedding dress, a poster-sized photograph of her and a plastic bucket used to gather donations for the search effort," AP reported on August 15, Members of Mark's family attended the service and his father, Dr. Douglas Hacking, gave the opening prayer, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

He was quoted in the article as saying, "We truly appreciate the influence [Lori] has had in our lives We've all been touched by her in some way We hope she can feel our love for her today. Lori's mother, Thelma Soares, was one of several family members who also gave a moving speech that day during the hour and a half service.

She spoke of her daughter's life and of the "class and style" for which she was known. It was clear that everyone who knew Lori sorely missed her. In remembrance of Lori, Thelma Soares set up a scholarship fund in her name. Soares, Court TV reported in a September 15, article. According to the article, the scholarship is awarded to a woman that has been "disadvantaged by financial hardship, abuse, family difficulties or other life circumstances" who attends the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business and needs financial assistance for her junior and senior years.

At around the same time Oprah made her generous donation, Mark announced from his prison cell that he intended to write a book "about everything," the proceeds of which would go to the Lori Kay Soares Hacking Memorial Scholarship Fund.

It is uncertain how much of the book, if any, has yet been written or whether there is a publishing deal lined up. What is certain is that we have not heard the end of Mark Hacking. On October 1, , after a little more than two months since Lori was reported missing, her body was finally found at the Salt Lake County Landfill. Nelson made the heart-wrenching discovery after sifting through garbage by hand and was quoted saying, "I pulled this group of trash out of a bag and hair came out of the bag.

The area was quickly enclosed and treated as a crime scene. Investigators worked for hours gathering Lori's remains and other evidence that might be used during the murder trial. Despite advanced decomposition, it didn't take long for the human remains to be identified as those of Lori Hacking. The newspaper printed a press release by the family in which they thanked the police and all of those who contributed in the search for Lori.

They also stated that they were relieved that her "mortal remains" would finally be laid to rest "with dignity befitting the valiant daughter of God she was. Unfortunately, the medical examiners were unable to determine whether Lori was pregnant due to the condition of the body. Moreover, they were unable to find the rifle that ended Lori's life. None-the-less, prosecutors believe that with the discovery of her body, their case was significantly strengthened because they were able to prove that she was actually murdered.

On October 30, , Mark attended his arraignment hearing at the 3 rd District Court. To the surprise of Lori's family, Mark's lawyers entered a plea of "not guilty. Hunt said that Lori's mother, Thelma Soares, "berated her son-in-law for prolonging her family's agony" and quoted her as saying, "In pleading not guilty, Mark continues to hurt us.

Mark is charged with a felony count of first-degree murder, as well as second-degree felony counts for obstruction of justice because he lied to investigators and tried to dispose of evidence. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison. His trial is expected to begin in late April Body thrown in trash bin The affidavits say the couple argued after she confronted him July After Lori went to bed, Mark Hacking stayed up late playing video games for an hour.

Then, sorting through his belongings, he found his rifle, went into the bedroom and shot his wife, according to investigators. He disposed of her body, the rifle and mattress in separate trash bins. And the next morning, he found time to shop for a new mattress while reporting his wife had not returned from an early morning jog. Thousands of volunteers turned out for days helping search for her before he indicated to family members there was no reason to continue the search.

IE 11 is not supported. It's not Lori that's up there. It's her body that's there. Lori is not in the landfill," she said. While forgiving her son-in-law "doesn't make anything that he did right," Soares said she had to do it for her own sake, not for his. And I guess it means different things to different people. Does it mean what I think he did was OK? Of course not! Does it mean that I have some understanding of why he did it?

Yes," she said. I mean, he's still in prison. He said in other letters — he calls them monstrous, hideous things that he did — 'I should never get out of here. I don't deserve to get out of here. Soares said she didn't even realize she had forgiven Hacking until she heard the late James E. You still feel hurt but not hate. That's exactly how I feel," she said. One of Soares' favorite scriptures is John that talks about peace: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. In addition to the pictures on the walls, Soares has received gifts and donations from people all over the world. Memorials made in her daughter's memory hang throughout the house along with honorary diplomas.

She recalled that at the height of the donations she was receiving, some people would send money and simply address their envelopes: "Lori Hacking's mother, Salt Lake City," and the post office made sure it got to her.

Soares still has the "wrinkled dollar bill" and the dime that a young boy gave her after his mother baked him cookies and he sold them to raise money for Lori's fund. Today, the University of Utah continues to award the Lori Hacking Scholarship annually to at least one student and will cover the cost of the junior and senior years of study.

Soares said the recipients are women who have overcome difficult circumstances to get into college. One recent recipient came from Ukraine, she said, and another from Haiti. Email: preavy deseretnews. Start your day with the top stories you missed while you were sleeping. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Print Subscriptions. Deseret News homepage. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: 10 years after murder, Lori Hacking's mother forgives, but 'will never get over it'.

Reddit Pocket Email Linkedin. Grid View. Family photo Thelma Soares, mother of Lori Hacking, is emotional as she is interviewed in her late daughter's room in her home in Orem, Friday, July 11, Mark Hacking is in prison for killing Lori Hacking.

Ravell Call, Deseret News Thelma Soares, mother of Lori Hacking, stands in her late daughter's bedroom as she shows photos and memorabilia of her daughter in her home in Orem, Friday, July 11, The photo is from the day Thelma adopted her daughter. Lori Hacking was killed July 19, , by her husband, Mark Hacking. Hacking was given six years to life for killing his wife, Lori, in July Pizac Douglas C. Douglas C. Hacking was given six years to life in prison for killing his wife, Lori, in July Pizac, Associated Press Search and rescue personnel, volunteers, and law enforcement search Memory Grove for Lori Hacking who went jogging the morning of July 19, , and did not report for work.

Jeffrey D. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News archives Eraldo Soares, left, tries to comfort his ex-wife, Thelma, along with Paul Soares, their son, during a press conference in Salt Lake City as the family calls for the media to focus on the fact that their daughter Lori Hacking is still missing. Winterton, Deseret News archives Volunteers begin to pick through thousands of tons of garbage at the Salt Lake Landfill as part of the search for the body of Lori Hacking Tuesday, Sept.

Police found Lori Hacking's body in a landfill Friday, Oct. Lori Hacking was killed July 19, , by Mark Hacking. Family photo. Sign up for the newsletter Utah Today Start your day with the top stories you missed while you were sleeping. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email.