Perry man charged with murdering ex-wife while 15-month-old daughter slept


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BRIGHAM CITY — A Perry man accused of fatally stabbing his recently divorced wife was charged Thursday with murder.

But charging documents filed in Box Elder County's 1st District Court do not shed any light as to a possible motive for the crime that was allegedly committed by a man with no prior domestic violence history.

Spencer Rumel Gerlach, 20, was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony.

On April 15, police were called to Keltsie Gerlach's apartment, 691 S. 600 East in Brigham City. Spencer and Keltsie Gerlach's divorce was finalized just a month ago, and Keltsie Gerlach, 19, had only recently moved into her new apartment.

Spencer Gerlach called 911 and reported that he had stabbed his ex-wife, charging documents state.

When police arrived at the apartment, one officer wrote: "Gerlach came outside before I approached the door with his hands out to his side. I started to handcuff him and asked what happened, and he said he killed his wife."

When officers entered the apartment, they found Keltsie Gerlach's body on the floor with "a large knife sticking out of the right side of her neck," according to the charges. The officers also observed "numerous" stab marks on her back and buttocks, "at which point we knew she was beyond help."

The couple's 15-month-old daughter, Addie, was asleep in another room when the killing occurred and was unharmed.

Brigham City stabbing victim remembered as loving mother

Brigham City police said the couple had no history of domestic violence with their department and they had not found anyone who knew of any history of violence between the two.

Family members who set up a *GoFundMe website for Addie noted that "Keltsie was taken from us in a selfish and senseless act of domestic violence."

The page said funeral expenses for Keltsie Gerlach had been taken care of, so all proceeds raised by the website would go to the young girl. Gerlach was buried Tuesday in Grace, Idaho, where she lived for 15 years.

According to her obituary, a fund has also been set up at U.S. Bank in the name of Sheldon Mansfield, "to assist in adoption proceedings" for Addie.

Spencer Gerlach is scheduled to appear in court Monday to face the new charges. He was being held Thursday on $50,000 bail and was ordered by the court to have no contact with his ex-wife's family or his daughter.


*KSL.com does not assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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Pat Reavy

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