A confessed murderer said she killed her boyfriend's estranged wife for him almost seven years ago because she couldn't say no to a man she loved.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Jon Wetzel, who is on trial charged with first-degree aggravated murder for the Nov. 20, 1985, shooting death of Sharol Wetzel. The case is being heard by a 12-member jury in the courtroom of 2nd District Judge Michael Lyon.The body of Sharol Wetzel, 36, was found in her car near the Ogden River. She had been shot once in the head. Kittie Eakes, 33, confessed to the murder two days later and is serving from six years to life in prison.
Jon Wetzel, 40, was charged with the murder earlier this year after Eakes told investigators that he was involved in his wife's death. He has pleaded not guilty.
The defendant, his wife and his girlfriend were all living in Ogden when Sharol Wetzel filed for divorce in November 1985. Seven days later, Sharol Wetzel was killed. Prosecutors believe Jon Wetzel had his wife murdered to prevent her from getting any assets in the pending divorce.
Eakes told the jury that she killed Sharol Wetzel because Jon Wetzel hounded her to commit the crime and because, "When I'm emotionally involved with someone, I can't say no."
On Nov. 19, 1985, Eakes said that she spent the night with Jon Wetzel and that the next morning he told her "that today was going to be the day."
She said that the defendant told her that his wife was coming over to the apartment around noon that day and he would leave the house. Eakes testified that the defendant told her to ask for a ride from his wife and then kill her.
Eakes said that she did go for a ride with Sharol Wetzel and she had the victim pull over when they reached a secluded area on a remote road by the Ogden River.
Before she shot the woman, Eakes said she tried to persuade Sharol Wetzel to try to get back together with her husband or to leave town.
The next thing Eakes said she remembered was seeing that Sharol Wetzel had a bullet in her head. She said she then got out of the car, threw the gun away and waited for Jon Wetzel to pick her up.