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Sandra Yi ReportingThe Bountiful teenager accused of killing his mother is headed back to Utah to face murder charges. Jeremy Hauck was caught in Montana and that's where he appeared in court this morning.
There were reports that Hauck was planning to fight extradition, but this morning, he signed the papers that will allow Bountiful Police detectives to bring him back to Utah. Those officers are on their way to Missoula now.
Jeremy Hauck waived extradition this morning. Also this morning, prosecutors met with Bountiful detectives to go over the case and screen the charges. Hauck has been charged with murder and vehicle theft. He is accused of shooting his mother twice in the head, then slitting her throat, before stuffing her body in their basement freezer.
Steve Major, Davis County District Attorney's Office: "We know that we have him still in the state of Utah, in the Ogden area, probably about a half hour before the body was found, so we know he was still in the area."
Two days later, officers arrested Hauck at a motel in Missoula, Montana. Prosecutors say when they screen the case, they will look at the highest penalty possible and go from there. In this case, they say, the circumstances do not justify a capital murder charge.
Hauck remains in the Missoula County Detention Center. He's been under suicide watch. He could be back in Utah sometime tomorrow and will be booked into the Davis County Jail. His first court appearance could happen on Friday.
Prosecutors call this case strange. They say, they're baffled by a motive.
Steve Major, Davis County Attorney's Office: "It's a very violent case, given the nature of what we have. It's a very bizarre case in that we have not found anything that would indicate motive or problems in the family. Straight-A student, graduated from high school. Family and friends say they didn't observe any problems."
Family members went in to the Hauck home for the first time since officers discovered Laura's body. They say it was difficult to see the place.
They plan to be in court when Jeremy makes his first appearance, possibly on Friday.
