GUILTY UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest in 2017*

[cocomod]

The Justice Files: Peggy Sue Case’s family get one step closer to justice | News Break

The Justice Files: Peggy Sue Case’s family get one step closer to justice


Michael Kufrin was in a Provo courtroom Thursday for a preliminary hearing. It’s part of the judicial process to see if a judge is convinced there’s enough evidence for the defendant to go to trial.

 

[Niner]

Friday, January 31st:
*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 (65/32 @ time of crime) (BF) - arrested (10/17/17), 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.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 7/11/19 reference post #118 here:
UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest*
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.
1/6/20: Next hearing on 1/30.
1/30/20: Thursday was a preliminary hearing to see if a judge is convinced there’s enough evidence for the defendant to go to trial. Detective Carl Johnston, the former Spanish Fork police detective was the first witness for the state’s case. Kufrin’s preliminary hearing will continue Friday, 1/31.

 

[Niner]

@MsFacetious - any court date updates yet? TIA!

 

[Niner]

bumping up for @MsFacetious - just wondering if there might be a court hearing date update? TIA!

 

[Niner]

Another bump for @MsFacetious - when you have time - can you see if there is a new update on a hearing? TIA!

 

[Niner]

@Seattle1 - I noticed you helped me on an another Utah case. Was wondering if you can help me on this one?

I have Utah County / 4th District #171402277
Michael Ignatius Kurfin DOB 1956

TIA! if you can!

and I have more Utah cases... want to help?

 

[Seattle1]

@Seattle1 - I noticed you helped me on an another Utah case. Was wondering if you can help me on this one?

I have Utah County / 4th District #171402277
Michael Ignatius Kurfin DOB 1956

TIA! if you can!

and I have more Utah cases... want to help?

Wow -- I'm not familiar with this cold case.

After a quick glance, it appears Michael Kurfin was arrested in 2017 and charged with the murder of Peggy Case, and then the court ordered him for a competency exam where he was deemed competent to stand trial, and he's been in jail ever since.

He had a preliminary hearing in January and no hearings since? Did I get this right?
_______________________________

Nov 13, 2017

A warrant was issued for Kufrin in July, according to court documents, and he was arrested July 17, 2017 by the Forest Park Police Department in Illinois.

Police had used evidence and information from the 1988 investigation into Case’s disappearance and newly-discovered evidence to put together a warrant for Kufrin, according to a statement from the Spanish Fork Police Department concerning Kufrin’s extradition.

Case, 28 at the time, was last seen on July 9, 1988, in the company of Kufrin, then 32, who was her boyfriend. The two were living together.


Suspect in Peggy Sue Case murder makes first court appearance

 

[Seattle1]

@Seattle1 - I noticed you helped me on an another Utah case. Was wondering if you can help me on this one?

I have Utah County / 4th District #171402277
Michael Ignatius Kurfin DOB 1956

TIA! if you can!

and I have more Utah cases... want to help?

@Niner -- I'm always willing to help you with the fantastic service you provide us providing it does not require an additional subscription for me personally.

For the state of Utah, the best I can assist with is the court calendar for Provo's 4th District Court but I need MSM or other sources to provide me the date within 7 days of the hearing.

Given the hearing date, the calendar is fairly detailed -- itemizes the counts, felony class, charges, and dates the charges filed.

This is the current week in 4th District - Provo.

https://www.utcourts.gov/cal/PROVO_Calendar.pdf

ETA: This is the link to Xchange subscription service for Utah Courts -- I've never been fond of this service, and their rates are going up Sept 1-- but the new rate will include more searches per month.

Subscribing to Xchange and Xchange Fees  - Utah Courts

 

[Niner]

Basically yes, @Seattle1 re this case!

And please - NO - don't do anything to subscribe to a site!! I didn't know.

And I just tried the link you gave above for the calendar - and alas, I can't access it!! Can I call upon you to look it up weekly? Or is that too much to ask?

Thanks for help!

 

[Niner]

Judge: KRAIG POWELL
Hearing: August 21, 2020
6th Fl, Courtroom 6B Friday
08:30 AM 25 FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

link from pdf file.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge: KRAIG POWELL
Hearing: August 21, 2020
6th Fl, Courtroom 6B Friday
08:30 AM 25 FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

link from pdf file.

That was quick!

You rock @Niner

ETA: Looks like the pdf calendar goes to Sept 2 so I guess it's good for 2 weeks and not 1 week as I recalled!

 

[Catmommy]

Niner, you DO rock! Thanks for updating this case and rocking like you do everywhere else!

 

[Catmommy]

Seattle1, thanking you for the follow up too. Justice doesn't come easily or quickly for some. And for others, not at all. This is important. Your service and Niner's is invaluable. I appreciate this info and you both.

 

[Niner]

Once I have court link - I'm on it!! LOL!

And you are quite welcome! My pleasure.

 

[Niner]

Friday, August 21st:
*Final Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 8:30am 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 (65/32 @ time of crime) (BF) - arrested (10/17/17), 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.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 7/11/19 reference post #118 here:
UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest*
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.
1/6/20 Update: Next hearing on 1/30. 1/30/20: Thursday was a preliminary hearing to see if a judge is convinced there’s enough evidence for the defendant to go to trial. Detective Carl Johnston, the former Spanish Fork police detective was the first witness for the state’s case. Kufrin’s preliminary hearing will continue Friday, 1/31.
1/31/20 Update: Next final pretrial conference hearing on 8/21/20.

 

[kporter]

fyi, at the 8/21 conference the trial was continued due to COVID-19 (as is happening with most trials in Utah). It's now set to begin in January 2021, although I've had some judges express doubt that trials will be able to start up again that early.

 

[Niner]

fyi, at the 8/21 conference the trial was continued due to COVID-19 (as is happening with most trials in Utah). It's now set to begin in January 2021, although I've had some judges express doubt that trials will be able to start up again that early.

Thank you for that info! Is there a "date" in January? And did you get this off the court site or an article? If article - maybe post a link to it? TIA!

 

[Niner]

@Seattle1 - can you send me another pdf for this case? Utah County.

TIA!

 

[Niner]

@Seattle1 - Can you send me another pdf for this case? Utah County.

TIA!

 

[Niner]

Sorry to bother you @Seattle1 - but the last pdf link you gave me doesn't work - do you have one more updated?

TIA!