Sally Ann Krivanek pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Monday in the death of her ex-boyfriend's fiancee.
She did not, however, admit to killing 23-year-old Kellie Nelson.
In court, defense attorney Michael Peterson, reading aloud from court documents outlining Krivanek's plea agreement with prosecutors, said Krivanek helped another individual plan Nelson's Dec. 1 murder. She "encouraged his course of action," Peterson said, arranged for transportation of Nelson's body and disposed of the remains.
The language, which was added by defense attorneys, appears to be an attempt to exonerate Krivanek from participation in the actual killing. Nelson's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the throat.
Prosecutors, however, believe Krivanek acted alone in murdering Nelson and setting her body on fire off I-80 near 9000 West. The 29-year-old mother of two was arrested Dec. 4 after investigators positively matched Krivanek's DNA to that on a cigarette butt found outside Nelson's Taylorsville townhouse.
"At this point we have evidence only to her culpability," deputy Salt Lake district attorney Robert Stott said. "If we had evidence that someone else was involved, we would charge them."
Stott noted that Krivanek pleaded guilty as charged, even though "aiding and abetting" language was added to the murder charge.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed a third-degree felony count of desecration of a human body and five third-degree felony counts of prescription fraud in an unrelated case.
They also agreed against any further obstruction of justice charges arising from the murder investigation.
Peterson left the courtroom through a private exit Monday afternoon and did not return a Deseret Morning News call for additional clarification of Krivanek's allegations of a second person's involvement.
Prosecutors have called Nelson's murder a calculated crime that took extensive planning.
"It's a bizarre crime and it's a horrific crime," Stott said. "You're talking about jealousy; you're talking about enmity . . . just some of the oldest passions that go on in human lives."
Krivanek cried and shook visibly throughout Monday's hearing, causing 3rd District Judge Robin Reese to ask twice if she was able to continue. She answered each time that she wished to move ahead.
Reese's courtroom was filled Monday with members of both women's families, all of whom declined to speak after the hearing.
Krivanek faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced Nov. 3.
E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com