SALT LAKE CITY – A man who admitted killing his wife and dumping her body in the trash has voluntarily agreed to stop selling autographs and other memorabilia related to his conviction, prison officials said.
Mark Hacking pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is serving a sentence of six years to life for the 2004 murder of his wife, Lori.
He reported she had disappeared while jogging, setting off a search by thousands of volunteers, then admitted shooting her and dumping her body in the garbage. Her body was eventually found in a landfill.
Prosecutors said Lori Hacking was killed because she discovered her husband's extensive lies, including that he had been admitted to medical school.
A seller known as Hellflorist on the Murder Auction advertised items signed by Hacking including a hand tracing, a prison visitor's form and two canteen invoice forms.
The seller also offered several magazines Hacking purportedly owned. "Toss 'em out on the coffee table, tell your friends Mark left 'em during his last visit," the description said.
Prison officials spoke to Hacking after discovering the Web site this past week, said Department of Corrections spokesman Jack Ford. He said Hacking had learned of the auction from an acquaintance.
"He's voluntarily discontinued trying to sell anything on the Web," Ford said.
Under Utah law, criminals face civil penalties for profiting from their crimes. However, Hacking will not face disciplinary action, Ford said.
The Utah Attorney General's Office said it was seeking to determine if any money generated by the sale of Hacking merchandise should go to the Crime Victim Reparations Fund.
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