Monday, January 6th:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ am PT) - UT - Peggy Sue Ellsworth Case (28) (disappeared July 8, 1988, Spanish Fork; found May 22, 2017 buried where Peggy & BF used to live) - *Michael Ignatius Kufrin (63/32 @ time of crime) (BF) - arrested & charged (7/17/17) & indicted (10/30/17) with 1st degree felony murder. Has not entered a plea. $250K Cash only bond.
Case was last seen leaving a party in Payson with Kufrin on July 9, 1988.
11/6/17 hearing – Kufrin refused to be transported to court.
6/1/18 Update: 1) Defense counsel filed a motion seeking in-person (contact) visits with their client, their investigator, & a computer. County jail policy apparently won't allow contact visits by investigators, and the use of computers is restricted. Defense counsel argues that the prosecutor's discovery is provided electronically and must be reviewed electronically, and that the defendant is hearing impaired and can't communicate effectively except in person. 2) The State filed a motion to conduct DNA testing that will consume entire samples. Defense counsel wants the testing to be done by a neutral testing facility, with both parties to split the costs, and want their own expert to be present. These motions are both contested, and are set to be heard July 11.
7/11/18 Update: Next Status hearing on 10/22. 10/22/18: Next Pretrial Conference hearing on 11/16. 11/16/18: Status Conference hearing on 12/3/18. 1/5/18: Next Status Conference hearing on 1/11/19. 1/11/19: Next Status Conference hearing on 3/11.
7/11/19 Update: On July 11, the court ordered an evaluation into whether Kufrin is competent to stand trial. His defense counsel had filed a motion, expressing concern that Kufrin did not comprehend the nature of the proceedings or the charges against him. The State stipulated to the order. Hearing on 12/2/19.
12/2/19 Update: Kufrin, formally charged with murder after the discovery of the remains, has been declared competent in the criminal case. Monday’s finding from 4th District Judge Kraig Powell comes after separate evaluations from doctors. It means Kufrin can sufficiently understand the criminal case against him & work with his attorney. Kufrin fired his previous lawyer. His new attorney, Matthew Morrise, declined comment except to say he has just received the case & his client has not yet had a preliminary hearing, which is meant to determine if the evidence is strong enough to advance to trial. Due back in court on 1/6/20.