Man receives prison term for 1990 slaying of rival in Holladay

A cold-case murder came to an end Wednesday after Bernard Fred Rigby was sentenced to prison for the 1990 shooting death of a man Rigby considered a rival for a woman's affections.

Rigby, 65, pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors maintain Rigby killed Gary Feltch, 47, after confronting Feltch outside his Holladay home, where Rigby shot Feltch to death with a sawed-off shotgun.

Rigby admitted that he has shared this secret with only three people, one of whom is a good friend and former sheriff's deputy who hid this information for years, but eventually decided to come clean and testified against Rigby at his August 2007 preliminary hearing.

The case went unsolved for years, but was reopened, and in 2007, Rigby was charged with killing Feltch.

Third District Judge Vernice Trease on Wednesday sentenced Rigby to zero to five years in prison, a lower sentence than is usual for a second-degree felony, since the plea bargain was made under a law that permits a reduction in sentencing.

Defense attorney Scott Wilson asked that Trease consider keeping Rigby in jail, where he has been since his 2007 arrest, because Rigby's health is in bad shape and jailers know his medical condition. Among other things, Rigby has had throat cancer and suffered a stroke in 2000. He now uses a wheelchair for mobility.

However, the judge said it is up to state corrections officials to decide where Rigby will be housed.

Rigby has a long history of alcohol abuse, for which he eventually got counseling. After his stroke in 2000, he stopped drinking entirely. At his sentencing, the visibly ailing Rigby addressed the judge using a mechanical speech device.

"I didn't do it," Rigby insisted. "I never, ever, ever shot anybody."

Prosecutor Vincent Meister said the attitude Rigby displayed in court was typical of what Meister has observed in the past.

"He is still not accepting responsibility," Meister said. "He cannot admit to a lie he has been living for 19 years."

Rigby's close friend, Scott Cook, a former Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputy, testified that Rigby told him he had killed Feltch. Cook said he kept his friend's secret for years and even lied to fellow law enforcement officials to protect Rigby. But when the case was reopened, Cook testified against his friend, saying that Rigby had admitted he was guilty.