BRIGHAM CITY — A Perry man convicted of stabbing his ex-wife to death during an apparent episode of jealous rage just one month after they divorced is headed to prison.
Spencer Rumel Gerlach, 21, was sentenced Wednesday in 1st District Court to 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison after pleading guilty to murder, a first-degree felony.
On April 15, Gerlach went to visit his 15-month-old daughter at his ex-wife's new apartment, 691 S. 600 East in Brigham City. When he arrived, Keltsie Gerlach, 19, was on the phone with another man.
As Gerlach continued talking to the man, it reportedly caused Spencer Gerlach to become overwhelmed with rage, believing that she was purposely trying to taunt him. He told police he went to his car to retrieve a combat-style knife, placed their young daughter in a bedroom, closed the door, and then stabbed his ex-wife more than a dozen times in the head, neck and back.
After the brutal murder, Spencer Gerlach called 911 to report what he had done and asked that they send social services to take care of his child.