A Bountiful man accused of killing his mother and stuffing her body inside a freezer will stand trial on murder in December. His lawyers plan to use an insanity defense.
Medical experts agreed in February that Jeremy Jacob Hauck, 23, was competent to stand trial for the 2006 slaying. A hearing scheduled for Monday in 2nd District Court to further evaluate Hauck’s mental state at the time of the murder ended instead with a bench trial being set for Dec. 19.
Defense attorney Todd Utzinger asked Judge John Morris to address two issues at trial: whether Hauck is guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity; and whether he is a danger to himself or society and should be housed at the Utah State Hospital.
Hauck has been at the State Hospital for several years while medical experts worked to restore his competency.
Hauck was 18 when prosecutors say he shot 51-year-old Laura Hauck and cut her throat as she slept. He then allegedly dragged her body to the basement of their Bountiful home and stuffed it into a freezer.
He then stole his mother’s car and went to Missoula, Mont., where he was arrested two days later.
Hauck was subsequently charged with first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony theft.
Twitter: @jm_miller
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