February hearing set in wife's slaying

ST. GEORGE — Prosecutors said they still have not decided if they will seek the death penalty against a man accused of stabbing his estranged wife to death.

Washington County prosecutors and defense lawyers for Jaime Antonio Lopez Sr., 41, met in a judge's chambers at the 5th District Courthouse on Monday for a status conference on the case.

Lopez, who remains in the Purgatory Jail on $40,000 bail, was not in attendance.

Judge James L. Shumate scheduled a preliminary hearing for Feb. 16, when he will decide if there is enough evidence to make Lopez stand trial.

Lopez is charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense, but prosecutors have not filed any notice that they intend to seek the death penalty.

"A decision hasn't been made," deputy Washington County Attorney Matt Miller said Monday.

Lopez is also charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault and child abuse, both third-degree felonies.

In court papers, prosecutors said Lopez received a phone call on Sept. 26 from his estranged wife, Maria Rivas, and it made him upset.

"He drove to the store and purchased a knife. He parked approx. five blocks away from his wife's house and walked to the house," St. George police officer Shawn Carter wrote in an arrest warrant probable cause statement.

Police said Lopez barged into the house and immediately began stabbing Rivas. The 32-year-old woman died of multiple stab wounds. Her son and two other people restrained Lopez until officers arrived.

Under questioning, investigators said Lopez claimed his wife was having affairs. However, St. George police said they have no evidence of that.

Police records do show a history of problems between Lopez and Rivas. In July 2006, St. George police responded to their home on a family fight. In a police report obtained by the Deseret Morning News, Rivas' name has been blacked out, but detectives confirmed she is the victim and the one who called 911.

"(Jaime) was accusing (Maria) of having many boyfriends because she works in construction with men," St. George police officer Lona Cullison wrote, adding that Rivas had said Lopez hit her in the past.

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