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The notion that Mark Hacking could get out of prison in just five years for killing his wife sent shock waves through the community.

In reality, Utah murderers - whose fates rest with a five-member parole board - almost always spend more than 15 years behind bars. Nevertheless, the state Sentencing Commission wants to allay the public's fear that a killer could get out sooner.

On Wednesday the commission recommended increasing the penalty for first-degree felony murder from five-years-to-life to 15-years-to-life.

It has been dubbed "Lori's Law," after Lori Hacking, who was shot to death by her husband then disposed of in a trash bin in July 2004.

Lori's father, Eraldo Soares has championed the cause. House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, has pledged to find a sponsor for a bill to codify the proposal.

Soares - who believes husbands who violate their marriage vows by killing their wives should face harsher penalties - told the commission he was devastated upon learning Hacking faced a minimum of just six years - five for the murder and one for using a firearm.

"It was horrible," he said. "I felt insulted, and so were the people of Utah.

"I can't come up with a number for the people who came up to me and said they were furious about this five-to-life."

Even after learning that most Utah murderers never leave prison, Soares said he worried that Hacking might wield his considerable powers of deception on the parole board.

"Mark is the biggest liar," Soares said. "He can sweet-talk. He could come out on parole in seven, eight years."

In July, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole decided Hacking will spend at least 30 years in prison before it considers him for release.

Soares said he wished he had the money to put a huge banner saying, "Thank You, Utah!" to show his appreciation for the volunteers who searched for Lori after Mark Hacking falsely reported her missing while jogging July 19, 2004.

The next best thing, Soares said, was to give Utahns a security blanket in the form of legislative change.

"Someday in the future, your daughter might be spared because her husband might think twice," Soares told the commission. "I'm looking out for your daughters."

After the hearing, Soares said he would be satisfied if the law "stopped a future Mark Hacking - even one - from killing a future Lori."

He said he plans to return to Utah from his home in California next year to plead for passage of the law before the Senate.

Soares said he has not heard from Hacking since he was sent to prison in June.

"I feel sorry for him because he has ruined his life," Soares told reporters after Wednesday's commission meeting. "He's not a person anymore; he's just a number."

Hacking shot Lori in the head with a .22-caliber rifle while she slept at their Salt Lake City apartment. Earlier she had apparently confronted him about his web of lies.

Contrary to what Hacking had told his wife and family, he had not graduated from the University of Utah and had not been accepted to medical school in North Carolina.

Hacking disposed of Lori's body in a trash bin, then told police she had gone jogging up City Creek Canyon, prompting a massive search of the foothills.

But police almost immediately suspected Hacking after finding evidence of blood in Lori's car and the couple's apartment.

In July 24, Hacking confessed to his brothers that he had murdered his wife. Her remains were found after a two-month search of the Salt Lake County landfill.

The sentencing commission has yet to decide about proposed language that would require the parole board to consider whether a murderer occupied a "position of trust" - such as spouse, parent or cohabitant - in relation to the victim.

Lori's Law

* What it would do: Mandate that a person convicted of first-degree felony murder serve no less than 15 years in prison.

* What happened Wednesday: The Utah Sentencing Commission recommended that state lawmakers make the change. The idea has been dubbed "Lori's Law," for murder victim Lori Hacking.

* What's next: A bill changing the minimum sentence for murder must pass by both chambers of the Utah Legislature, which next convenes in January.