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Kimberly Houk reporting And as family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to Lori, another group of people were gathering tonight in a different part of Orem, for a highschool reunion.
It's been 10 years since some of these people last saw each other. But tonight, the conversation centered around one thing: their fellow classmate, Mark Hacking.
Justin Heppler, Mark Hacking's Friend: “I miss him. I wish he was here."
Justin Heppler was best friends with Mark Hacking all through high school. And tonight, he's walking into his 10 year reunion. A reunion he always thought Mark would be at.
Justin Heppler, Mark Hacking's Friend: “I was actually looking forward to catching up with Mark tonight. And I wish I could've caught up with him tonight."
But as Mark's fellow classmates come together, Mark continues to sit in a jail cell, and his absence is felt.
Steinagel: “I wish he was here."
Murdoch: “It's really heart wrenching."
Many say it's hard to believe that such a tragedy struck someone they all knew. It hit so close to home.
Heppler: “When it all happened, it floored me. I didn't expect it."
Brandon Wood, Hacking's Neighbor: “It's certainly different when it's someone you know."
Brandon Wood was Mark Hacking's senior class president, and he was also his neighbor.
Brandon Wood, Hacking's Neighbor: “Mark and I have been great friends through out my life, and I've always admired mark and his family. "
And tonight, instead of focusing on what went wrong with a guy they all had only good things to say about, his classmates instead reminisced about the Mark they knew.
Justin Heppler, Mark Hacking's Friend: “He was a very friendly guy. He was a very reliable guy. He was very sharp."
Steinagel: “He was just a really good guy, kind guy."
And tonight, as the Class of 94 walks the halls of their alma mater, they do so without their fellow classmate Mark Hacking.
Brandon Wood, Hacking's Neighbor: “Regardless of what results in all of this, i love mark a great deal, and i'm praying for him right now, and I'm praying for his family and Lori's family."
And even though many say they're stunned by all the developments in Mark Hacking's case, they wanted to stay focused on being positive, and having a good time catching up with each other.
