Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
UTAH COUNTY — The murder case of retired BYU professor Kay Mortensen has hit another snag. One of the suspects has rejected a plea deal, prompting his high profile attorney to quit the case.
The murder happened more than 2 1/2 years ago, and the victim's son and his wife were wrongly accused until two men from the Uintah Basin were implicated. Prosecutors were willing to drop the threat of the death penalty, if Martin Bond would plead guilty and agree to life in prison without parole.
Bond has refused and that has caused enough of a rift that Ron Yengich has resigned as Bond's attorney. But what it really means is that justice will be delayed, yet again.
Roger and Pamela Mortensen, now recognized as victims of a violent kidnapping along with Kay's widow, still wait for justice.
"They're concerned if this thing gets strung out too far, I think they also understand that we want to get it right the first time," said Tim Taylor, the Chief Deputy of the Utah County attorney's office.
(The victim's family is) concerned if this thing gets strung out too far. I think they also understand that we want to get it right the first time.
–Tim Taylor, Chief Deputy of the Utah County attorney's office.
Meanwhile, Bond's co-defendant Ben Rettig, who pleaded guilty to the crime a year ago, is trying to back out of his guilty plea. Rettig is already serving 25 years to life in prison, and last week asked a judge to appoint him an attorney, to appeal his plea bargain.
Bond, is scheduled for trial in October, although prosecutors realize it's unlikely the case will happen this Fall, but they said they have new, even stronger evidence, against him.
"Our case is ready to roll, so we're ready to go forward on our case," Taylor said. "It was November 16, 2009 and so we would really like to get this taken care of as soon as possible and let the jury decide."
Our calls to Ron Yengich about why he left the case have not been returned. But Bond will be back in court a month from now, when a new attorney will be appointed. Prosecutors said they still intend to seek the death penalty if Bond is convicted.
As previously reported, Roger and Pamela Mortensen are suing Utah County prosecutors and the sheriff's office in federal court, claiming they were wrongfully prosecuted.
