A 70-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting her former daughter-in-law outside a preschool appeared in court for the first time Monday.
Mary Nance Hanson is charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of Tetyana Nikitina, who was shot four times in the head on Jan. 29 at the Salt Lake Community Action Program Head Start, 336 E. 3900 South.
A judge found Hanson was indigent, assigned her a public defender and set a scheduling hearing for Feb. 22 before 3rd District Judge William Barrett.
Hanson walked up to Nikitina's vehicle and began shooting at her, according to witnesses. At one point, she appeared to reload the gun so she could continue shooting, charges state.
Nikitina, 34, had been a preschool teacher at Head Start for two years.
When Nikitina filed for divorce from her husband of seven years in 2005, she cited a difficult relationship with Hanson, calling her "verbally abusive," claiming she had a history of psychiatric issues and that she had been combative over her grandchildren.
The Unified Police Department last week served a search warrant on the Taylorsville home of Dale Jankowski, but police have said there is no evidence that he is connected to the slaying.
Hanson remains in the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
