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BRIGHAM CITY — A Perry man accused of stabbing and killing his 19-year-old ex-wife one month after their divorce has been found competent to stand trial for murder.
Spencer Rumel Gerlach, 20, was found mentally competent to stand trial at a hearing Monday. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 30.
Gerlach is charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony.
Investigators say Gerlach went to the new apartment of his recently divorced wife, Keltsie Gerlach, on April 15, and stabbed the woman in the back and neck before calling 911 to report what had happened.
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Brigham City Police Chief Mike Nelsen said when his officers arrived on a call of a stabbing, Spencer Gerlach was very quiet and went right up to them.Officers arrived to find Spencer Gerlach outside the building, 691 S. 600 East, Brigham City. As officers were placing him in handcuffs, Gerlach "said he killed his wife," according to charging documents.
The couple's 15-month-old daughter, Addie, was asleep in another room when the killing occurred and was unharmed.
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.
