Lori's outraged father lashes out

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 2004-08-07 | Matthew D. LaPlante and Matt Canham

[MizSterious]

Lori's outraged father lashes out


''Monstrous act'': In a statement, Hareld Soares decries the tragic death of his daughter, his son-in-law's lies and cowardice, says he seeks justice, not vengeance
By Matthew D. LaPlante and Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

2004-08-07 01:10:22.092

Four days after his wife vanished, Mark Hacking wrapped his large arms around his father-in-law's small frame and promised he wasn't responsible.

    Now, believing his daughter's body is among thousands of tons of waste paper, plastics and rotting food, Hareld Soares is lashing out at his son-in-law.

   "As the facts about my little girl's death emerge, I am outraged," Soares said in a statement Friday. "The innumerable lies she was told by her husband for years on end were selfish and shameful. The cowardly way in which she and her baby were brutally murdered in cold blood while she slept is despicable."

   Police allege Mark Hacking, 28, killed his wife, Lori, in the early morning hours of July 19 and threw her body into a Dumpster, the contents of which were discarded at the Salt Lake County landfill that afternoon.

   For the seventh night in two weeks, detectives on Friday scoured a two-acre plot of the landfill, searching with cadaver dogs for any sign of her body.

   "The gutless attempt at covering up this monstrous act is appalling. It is difficult to imagine a more disrespectful way of disposing of her remains. No family should have to lose a daughter and sister this way," said Soares, a teacher from Fullerton, Calif.

[MizSterious]

That particular article (48 Hours) gave a lot of information about just how he involved this deception was. All in all, this is one of the strangest cases I've seen since the "Desert Murder Mystery" case some time back--that was the one where the guy managed to convince a woman he was an illegal alien from outer space.

[MizSterious]

There was a hilarious article from the Onion about trial by media that I used to post every so often on those threads related to the case-which-shall-go-unnamed. Of course, the Onion won't let us post those little gems any longer. Pity.

[Kackikat]

ROFLMCO ...that is too much. Profiler, I think not. Unless you are into fortune telling or palm reading...some of which offer "phrenological readings".

Phrenology has been denounced by the criminal justice system, and has no place in biological theories of crime...except to be taught as an old ignorant theory which has been disproved again and again by numerous studies. Some theorists subcribed to it in beginning of 20th century, and it was used by Sherlock Holmes (fictional character) to solve some crimes...but it is laughable to criminologists today.

[Dont Mention the War]

Mr. Soares has indeed been incredible throughout this horror. But he is discovering what countless scores of victims and their families already know: The justice system is geared toward the one in the dock. Every effort is made to ensure he has the fairest of trials and that's just the beginning. Victims are a footnote. It's insane, but that's essentially what goes on.

Sadly, our criminal justice system (heck, every criminal justice system in the free world, as far as I know) is not about establishing truth or determining guilt or innocence. It is a sport. Every trial is a game, and both sides play to win. Defense lawyers make their names and their money not by defending the innocent, but by getting their clients off with almost total disregard for the facts. DAs' careers are made not by protecting the public and insuring that justice is served, but by having the highest conviction rate possible.

I'm not claiming I have a better way all worked out in my head, but there has to be something better than what we've got.

[uvular]

I just saw that one the other night; the guy's made-up name was something like Dazen Hausenhuff or something, and his wife's name was Girly. One real creepy guy and the gal that believed he was from outer space was a piece of work herself.

[the Deejay]

Per Rita Cosby's program tonight. The Hackings family are going to have Mark plead guilty. To get this over and done with. So's not to put everyone through a long trial.

It really is the only reasonable solution, isn't it? With all the evidence Mark's facing and LE has only scratched the surface, I'm sure.

[He Rides A White Horse]

More job security for Greta Van Susteren.

[fox0566]

I think this is an outrage! Apparently, the way I understand it, is that he will NOT be charged with capital murder. It will be either 1st degree murder or even manslaughter. He butchered two human beings to death, and by simply pleading guilty to it he can receive a sentence that will allow him to be paroled one day? Life certainly is cheap nowadays.

The families involved may not want a long trial, but have they ever considered the feelings of the two that are no longer here to speak for themselves? Might they want some justice? And what about the rest of society, do we have to put up with someone like Mark Hacking roaming around free after he is paroled?

Something is wrong with this picture.

[the Deejay]

Well, Lori cannot speak for herself but her parents can and apparently have. Bottom line is, Mark will spend life in prison.

Even if there was a trial, he wouldn't have gotten the death penalty.

Besides, he'd probably die of old age in prison anyway before he'd be put to death.

[the Deejay]

Listening to Rita's program, it sounded as though the Hackings & Soares families have discussed the plea versus not guilty by insanity.

I'm sure the families discussed the options with LE and/or Mark's attorney.

Guess we'll find out for sure on Monday, what (if anything) has been decided.

[fox0566]

I'm no expert on the law, but why is it that he wouldn't have gotten the death penalty? What does qualify for the death penalty in Utah? How many do you have to kill, 5,10, 15 people? He killed this woman and her unborn child while she was sleeping! For crying out loud, what is his defense against the death penalty. Is he going to claim that he did it because he loved her? Or maybe it's just the fact that she was his wife and the baby was his child, and he can do whatever he wants with them? Sadly, the legal system has two definitions of justice when it comes to murder. If your spouse murders you, the penalty will not be as severe as it would be if a complete stranger did it. To me it doesn't matter, murder is murder, and death is death. There are no two ways to look at it.

[the Deejay]

I guess we'll have to wait to see what LE actually
charges him with and that won't be until the
arraingment on Monday or whenever. Per Rita, it
looks like Monday.

[johnb838]

men should always lie when wives ask if their butt looks big in an outfit.

If he doesn't understand the difference between that kind of lie and the other kind, it is itself a bad sign.

[spectre]

Oh Fox, Mark wants us to think the murder wasn't as heinous, since he killed her while she was asleep. She just didn't wake up. That's where he is going with this one, if he STILL admits to it.

sw

[johnb838]

Pregnant women make up an unusual percentage of women murdered, but the most often murdered is the black male. And the best way to avoid being murdered is still to stay away from open air drug markets, and don't let people you don't know into your car.

[spectre]

Well, if Rita said it, it must be so. (sarcasm off).

Thanks, Deejay, we wait.

sw

[Hank Rearden]

Mark wants us to think the murder wasn't as heinous, since he killed her while she was asleep. She just didn't wake up.

Well, we don't know that for sure, do we?

How would you like to wake up in the middle of being murdered? Seems heinous to me.

[gentlestrength]

It's not the head shape...it's the goatee!

http://www.courttv.com/graphics/photos/trials/laci-peterson/photogallery/6-scott-car-052003.jpg

ps How do I post a pic here?

[Brytani]

Phrenology went out with flappers and cocaine in soft drinks. Didn't you get the memo?

[spectre]

You're right, Hank, she probably did wake up. I once woke up screaming when a bee stung me.

But good son Mark must think it sounds more "palatable" that way.

sw