Charges filed in death of West Valley mom

A young West Valley man accused of killing his neighbor, a 33-year-old mother of two, was charged Wednesday with aggravated murder.

With an aggravated murder charge, prosecutors have the option of seeking the death penalty if convicted. The district attorney's office has 60 days after arraignment to decide whether they will pursue that sentence. A conviction for aggravated murder also carries a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Marty Vuksinick, 18, is accused of breaking into Kim Hain's house, 6616 W. Fanfare Court (3500 South), early in the morning of May 22 with the intention of committing a theft, according to 3rd District Court documents.

"He found Kimberly Hain in her bedroom and struck her several times with the bat," the charges state.

Hain's two autistic children, ages 6 and 8, were in the house at the time of their mother's death, according to police. The children found their mother's body but did not tell anyone until their father returned home from working an overnight shift at a local hospital.

When Pat Hain returned home, he found his wife's body and called police.

During the ensuing Memorial Day weekend, detectives as well as member of the media combed the area interviewing neighbors and friends of Kim Hain. Vuksinick was seen frequently by reporters and even talked to the Deseret News.

"She never had an enemy in the world," Vuksinick said. "Why her? It's so shocking."

His mother and Kim Hain were best friends.

But Vuksinick's behavior also caught the attention of investigators who wanted to interview him. Once they started talking to him, Vuksinick gave contradicting statements as well as revealing details only a person present during the crime would know, according to police.

Eventually, Vuksinick led police to a baseball bat discarded in a field near the Hain's house.

Police say Vuksinick, who friends say had been battling a drug addiction, ingested cocaine before entering Hain's house through an unlocked door.

In addition to aggravated murder, Vuksinick was charged Wednesday with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

"It's a very sad case. It's just awful both families have to go through this," deputy district attorney Alicia Cook said.

E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com