Posted on 08/05/2004 12:25:04 PM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
Hacking Confessed to Brothers, Father Says By PAUL FOY ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -
Mark Hacking confessed to two older brothers that he killed his wife as she slept and then put the body in a trash bin, their father said Thursday.
Hacking, confronted with evidence he had something to do with his wife's disappearance, and overwhelmed by the volunteer effort to find her, made the confession when his brothers Scott and Lance visited him at a psychiatric ward July 24, the father, Douglas Hacking, said.
"He decided the time was right - he had better let authorities know what happened," Douglas Hacking said.
The details of the confession were disclosed Thursday in an interview of Scott Hacking in The Salt Lake Tribune.
Scott Hacking told the newspaper Wednesday that after Mark confessed, "My brother and I sat and hugged him for about an hour, and then we went home."
The information was relayed to police through an intermediary July 25.
"I've never seen him (Scott) hurting so much as that night, struggling with having to make that decision," said Douglas Hacking. "When it was all done, he said, 'I never felt as relieved or miserable at the same time.' It's a terrible dilemma for him to be in."
He said he believed Mark Hacking had a psychological breakdown because his wife apparently learned of his lie about having been accepted to medical school. Both Scott and Douglas are physicians, and the father has said Mark probably felt pressure by the achievements of his relatives.
Mark Hacking, 28, called police July 19 and said his wife had failed to show up for work after going for an early morning jog.
He was arrested Monday on suspicion of murder as he was about to be released from the psychiatric ward where he'd been since being found naked outside a hotel July 20.
Police believe that three days before she vanished, Lori Hacking discovered that her husband had not been enrolled in a North Carolina medical school where the couple was packing to move. It also was discovered that he had lied about graduating from the University of Utah.
Scott Hacking, 33, said he was aware that his brother, if convicted, could face execution.
"I certainly worried about that," he told the newspaper. "My family believes in the justice system. ... If those consequences are the ones he has to face, then again, we will support him through that point, though I hope he does not have to face that consequence."
He said he hopes the information resolves the case.
"My family started this entire process with two goals in mind," he said. "One was to bring Lori back and the other was to discover the truth. And we were determined to do both of those things.
"No brother wants to offer information about his own brother," he said.
Late Thursday afternoon was the deadline for Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom to file formal charges, but he has said he might ask the court for an extension.
Yocom has declined to say whether he would seek the death penalty, but did say the wishes of the victim's family are given great weight.
The search for remains at the county landfill resumed Wednesday night after a few days off. The searches have been halted temporarily when cadaver dogs were needed on other assignments and when their handlers felt the animals needed time off.
Large spotlights lighted the area Wednesday night and a backhoe tore out large chunks of garbage that were then spread out for the dogs to go over. The searches are conducted overnight because the dogs work more effectively in the cooler air, authorities have said.
I feel so sorry for both families...The brothers did the right thing...
If the families survive the next couple of years without going after each other, it will be a miricle.
Very hard for both.
Scott is the brother.
Mark is the murderer.
Duh. He was talking about the brother Douglas. About Douglas having to turn his brother in.
Scott is the brother.
Scott, the brother of the suspect, was struggling with the fact his brother had confessed to him and agonizing over his responsibility to share the information with the authorities and the family...
This family has been very admirable with their behavior...The murder victim's family and the arrested suspect's family are very close..I cannot imagine the hell they are caught in.
If he killed my sister, he'd be dead right now.
That would leave your family without your sister and you...This article is about the brothers of the suspect...
"I certainly worried about that," he told the newspaper. "My family believes in the justice system. ... If those consequences are the ones he has to face, then again, we will support him through that point, though I hope he does not have to face that consequence."
They didn't say it wasn't his fault. They were also aware that he may pay with the death penalty. I have to say I admire the way this family is dealing with this horrible situation.
Yeah? He hacked up his wife.
I'd say she got the worst part of the "dilemma".
I feel for the brothers. They did the right thing. But the Dad still hasn't dealt with the fact Mark did this in his right mind. This isn't an excuse. The man is not only a liar he is also a murderer. Something is still weird about this family. A lot of denial or something. They are so close yet they knew so little.
Whoops! Faux paux. The quote referred to Scott, the brother, not Mark the killer. Sorry for the too-quick posting, all.
Read the article..It's the brother, Scott, who was agonizing over turning in his brother...Mark is the arrested one.
I was just going to say (before you caught yourself) that it IS a dillema... turning in your brother knowing he faces the death penalty.
Glad they did the right thing.
Anyone with even the most vague recollection of recent crime history had to know he was guilty as soon as the story broke.
This lovely little issue begs two questions:
1) HE suffered a "psychological breakdown" because HE lied to his wife about being accepted into medical school?
2) So he kills HER?!?!?!?!?!?!
....and three steps toward an equitable resolution:
1) Strap him down.
2) Insert needle.
3) Push button.
Questions? Concerns? Criticisms? Debates?
I didn't think so.....
Reread the above posts. They weren't talking about Mark, the murderer, having a dilemma. I know it is confusing. They were talking about Mark's brother.
BTW, I am the WORST speed reader around here.
Sometimes I feel like Rosanne Rosannadanna... "Nevermind!"
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