Husband's Deception Turns Deadly

On July 19, 2004, Salt Lake City police received a distressing call from Mark Hacking, claiming his pregnant wife, Lori Soares, had vanished during her morning jog. What began as a missing persons case quickly unraveled into a horrifying tale of deceit and murder, revealing the deadly consequences of one man’s web of lies.

A Perfect Marriage With Hidden Secrets

Lori Soares and Mark Hacking appeared to have an idyllic life. High school sweethearts, they had been married for five years and were expecting their first child. Lori was a bright, ambitious 27-year-old woman, while Mark was perceived as a dedicated medical student. However, beneath this veneer of happiness lay a foundation of falsehoods. Mark had fabricated his entire academic career, falsely claiming he had graduated from the University of Utah and been accepted into medical school in North Carolina.

The Night of the Confrontation

The facade began to crumble the night before Lori’s disappearance. Lori discovered Mark’s deceit and confronted him in a handwritten letter, expressing her inability to continue their marriage based on lies. This confrontation set the stage for a tragic outcome. Mark, unable to face the exposure of his false life, decided to silence Lori permanently. As she slept, he shot her in the head with a rifle and disposed of her body in a dumpster.

The Investigation Unfolds

Mark’s lies extended beyond his education. When police investigated Lori’s disappearance, they found a newly purchased mattress, suggesting an attempt to cover up a violent crime. Mark’s erratic behavior, including running naked through a hotel and being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, further complicated the case. Volunteers scoured the local landfill, eventually discovering Lori’s remains, which confirmed Mark’s guilt.

The Trial and Aftermath

In court, Mark Hacking pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, admitting he shot Lori with the intention of killing her. The courtroom was filled with emotional testimonies, including from Lori’s father, who described the pain of losing his daughter. Hacking was sentenced to prison in 2005 with the possibility of parole after 30 years (2035). Due to public outcry about the possibility that Hacking could have served as little as six years for aggravated murder, lawmakers implemented “Lori’s Law” to raise the minimum sentence to 15 years to life, with the possibility for more time based on the severity of the crime.

Mark Hacking’s life of deceit culminated in the most tragic way; murder. Lori Soares’ story is a grim reminder of extreme consequences when the truth is buried under a mountain of falsehoods paired with a mental health breakdown.

References: Why Did Mark Hacking Kill His Wife? | Hacking pleads guilty in murder of wife | Lori Soares’ mother comes forward in doc about shocking murder | No hearing for Hacking until 2035