From Deseret News archives:
Searchers overcame big odds
Those are just a few of the words volunteers used to describe the task of combing a landfill by hand in search of a body.
Still, more than three dozen men and women some police officers, some firefighters, some handlers with cadaver dogs spent 33 days searching the Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Facility for the remains of Lori Hacking,
It was an effort Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse described as having "a monumental potential for failure."
But Friday those efforts paid off when a Salt Lake police officer discovered human remains that within hours were positively identified as those of Lori Hacking.
"Most of society, I think, cannot imagine how difficult a task this is," Dinse said at a press conference Friday afternoon as he expressed his gratitude for the work of volunteers.
Lori Hacking, 27, was reported missing July 19 by her husband, who told police she had gone for a jog in Memory Grove.
Mark Hacking, 28, has been charged with one count of first-degree felony murder and three counts of second-degree felony obstruction of justice in connection with his wife's death. He will appear in court Oct. 29 to enter a plea to the charges.
In an alleged confession to his brothers, Mark Hacking said he had deposited his wife's body in a Dumpster after killing her.
His confession confirmed what police already believed: Lori Hacking's body might be found in the landfill.
A 21-day search with cadaver dogs was unable to locate the body, and in early September police opted to switch to a hand search. The method had proved successful for some other police departments, Dinse said last month although in general the probability for finding a body in a landfill is low.
Police officers from nearly every agency in the Salt Lake Valley, including the Utah Department of Public Safety, responded to the call for assistance from Dinse and committed volunteers to the effort.
On the first day of the hand search, 38 searchers worked shoulder to shoulder as the tedious work of combing through the garbage with pitchfork-like rakes proceeded. In the 12 working days since, between 20 and 25 searchers were at the task each day, Salt Lake police detective Jay Rhodes said.
Comments
- Jazz missing 4 to injuries 12:55 a.m.
- Pitta doesn't win award 12:47 a.m.
- Jazz manage a magical win 12:43 a.m.
- Speed skating tuneup Friday 12:41 a.m.
- BYU football: NCAA awards 12:30 a.m.
- Magic unable to continue road act 12:26 a.m.
- Fans should worry about lousy teams 12:24 a.m.
- U.S.-born Hispanics see gains 12:23 a.m.
- Editorial: Extremism spike alarming 12:23 a.m.
- No need for more stimulus 12:22 a.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Defense witness goes on offensive
- BCS = power conference monopoly
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Unga might enter NFL draft
- 5 officers lose their certification
- Y.'s Emery bruised, but rarely beaten
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Letters: Global warming a lie
256 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
193 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
165 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
150 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
124 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
123 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
David Rankin, one of Utah's youngest and ablest astrophotographers has...
There was a time when free shipping was rare. This holiday season, you...
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
I too agree that Booz and the team are NOT just going through the motions....
The springs have a long history of being clothing optional, and they provide...
He "needs more outside shooting to beat LA". He needs to design a real...
NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award: LaVell Edwards, Brigham Young,...
Why did the Jazz play so bad against LA and really well for a 1/2 against...
We Coug fans will be forever grateful for your three or four years of bearing...
When was the last time Utah even got to the dance three times in a row; let...
His speech was quite good, I agree with what Gingrich said. However, for...
I believe that a large part of the deterioration of the rivalry is a result...
Good win Jazz!!! Now give Fesenko some Red Bulls and lets see how well the...




You can be the first to comment on this story.