FARMINGTON -- For possibly the first time in Davis County, a judge may be asked to order forced medication to restore a defendant to competency.
Jeremy Jacob Hauck, 21, is charged with the first-degree murder of his mother, Laura Hauck, 51, on Aug. 4, 2006, in Bountiful.
Hauck is accused of shooting his mother twice, slitting her throat and then putting her body in the freezer, where it was found Aug. 7, 2006.
"We will probably hold another hearing asking the court to force medication," Deputy Davis County Attorney Steve Major said Thursday after a review hearing in 2nd District Court.
Hauck was sent to Utah State Hospital for mental evaluation in January 2008.
Major said he does not know of any cases in Davis County where the judge has ordered a defendant be forced to take medication.
If Hauck can be restored to mental competency, the next step will be a trial.
Major said Laura Hauck's family is "very frustrated" with how long the process has taken.
When asked if he knows of a motive for the crime, Major said that "has never been addressed."
During Thursday's hearing, defense attorney Todd Utzinger said doctors have ruled out that Hauck has been faking his mental illnesses. They have diagnosed Hauck with a schizophrenic disorder, an autism disorder and a delusional disorder.
Doctors "haven't made any real effort" to medicate Hauck, Utzinger said after the hearing. "They've offered him medication, but he has declined."
It will be up to prosecutors to request a hearing in which they will have to prove that medicating Hauck will restore him to competency, Utzinger said.
Another hearing to review the case is set for June 10, but Major said prosecutors may set a hearing sooner so Hauck can start receiving medication.
Utzinger said the type of mental illnesses Hauck has usually appear in young men about the age Hauck was "when the incident occurred."
Hauck was 18 years old when police said he killed his mother.
Utzinger said the illnesses have made "an ongoing dialogue with Jeremy (Hauck) difficult."
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