Rothermich was left for dead in heavy brush along Haven Lane (5180 S.) near 2500 East about 3:20 p.m. She died from her injuries while en route to the hospital Oct. 3.
In the hours after the collision, Sherman Alexander Lynch III, 59, pleaded for the public's help in locating the vehicle suspected to have killed his wife. However, prosecutors believe Lynch's appearances on local media may have been his downfall.
"After the defendant appeared on the news asking for help in locating the suspect vehicle, detectives were subsequently contacted by a female identifying her self as [Lynch's] girlfriend," Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller said Wednesday afternoon.
The girlfriend told detectives that she was with Lynch in August when he purchased a 1993 white Chevrolet pickup authorities were attempting to locate. Two days after the collision, deputies found the pickup in the garage of an abandoned house about one mile from Lynch's home.
Plywood boards were placed to hide front-end damage to the driver's side of the truck, and white paint from the truck matched paint recovered from Rothermich's clothing, Miller said.
In an interview with deputies, Lynch denied owning the Chevy, stating he only owned a white Astrostar van. He also added that he was at Costco at the time his wife was hit.
Although Miller said there wasn't a recorded history of domestic violence between Rothermich and Lynch, charges filed Wednesday accuse Lynch of first-degree felony domestic-violence homicide, which carries a term of 15 years to life, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony punishable by one to 15 years in prison.
"Domestic violence is one of the most serious issues we face in Salt Lake County," Miller said. "Every single domestic violence case we prosecute in this county, is a potential homicide. We need to make sure that when these cases come to our attention, we hold the offenders accountable."
Lynch has not offered a motive for the murder, Miller said. But detectives stated Lynch said he holds two family life insurance policies totaling $225,000.
Lynch is being held on $1 million bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
