Hauck gives up right to claim family estate

The family of Laura Hauck did not have to convince 2nd District Judge Rodney Page on Tuesday that they should be appointed fiduciaries of Laura Hauck's estate.

Jeremy Hauck, Laura's only son, sent a letter to Page relinquishing his rights to her estate.

Jeremy is accused of shooting his mother twice in the face, slitting her throat and then stuffing her body into a freezer, where it remained for days before police discovered it on Aug. 7.

Page appointed Faye Garlock, Laura's sister, as fiduciary of the estate.

There were some restrictions, however, placed upon what Garlock could do with the estate.

"No funds are to be dispersed or property disposed of without proper order," Page said. "I want the funds left intact."

Cathleen Gilbert, Garlock's attorney, recognized the interesting and unfortunate circumstances surrounding the case and immediately sought permission to take care of a few things.

Page authorized Garlock to continue making mortgage and other payments, as well as sell the two cars. Garlock will have to file a petition with the court if she wants to sell the condo.

Any money collected from insurance, bank accounts or the sale of the cars, however, is to be put in a trust account while Jeremy is in jail. His case has not yet gone to trial and he may have a right to the estate in the future, Page said.

The judge recognized there were some differing feelings about who should inherit the estate and wants to wait until the trial is over before he fully authorizes anything.

"The decedent's son has a higher priority but is incarcerated on charges of the felonious and intentional killing of the decedent, and accordingly, is not qualified to act as a fiduciary of the decedent," a lawyer for Garlock wrote in the petition filed in early September and obtained by the Deseret Morning News.

Under a new state law, Jeremy may not be able to inherit anything, anyway. HB63 was drafted to prevent accused or convicted murderers from collecting on inheritances, estates insurance, bank accounts, property and other benefits.

Jeremy is in the Davis County Jail on $300,000 bail. He has been charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and theft, a second-degree felony.

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E-mail: blee@desnews.com