Man arrested on murder charge in case of his missing wife

SALT LAKE CITY - A man whose credibility began crumbling the day he first reported his pregnant wife missing was arrested Monday in her death, just before his scheduled release from a psychiatric ward.

Investigators believe Lori Hacking, 27, was killed in the couple's apartment and that her body is buried somewhere below 3,000 tons of trash at the county landfill. The landfill was expected to be searched again Wednesday.

Her husband, Mark Hacking, reported her missing July 19. He was hospitalized when he was seen running around naked outside a motel where he had taken a room, hours after making an emotional appeal on television that day for help in searching for her.

Although Lori Hacking's body has not been found, police said they had gathered enough evidence - including the murder weapon - to bring charges against her husband.

"The evidence gathered strongly indicated Lori was the victim of a homicide and that Mark Hacking is the individual responsible," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse said.

Mark Hacking, 28, has not been formally charged. Prosecutors have 72 hours to file charges, but they could ask for an extension if necessarng, Dinse said. He declined to elaborate.

Both Dinse and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office said failing to fi no admission of guilt at his arrest and is on a suicide watch, Dinse said. Hacking was picked up before his scheduled release a morning jog at a park near downtown.

But cracks soon emerged in the husband's timeline and overall credibility, and polemoving a box spring from the couple's apartment. Investigators have refused to confirm reports that they found a mattress in alaborate Monday. Messages left Monday for family members were not immediately returned.