‘Emotions got better’ of killer who smothered, dumped wife, then remained free for almost 20 years
The husband of a woman who went unidentified for nearly two decades after her legs were discovered inside a trash bin in Rancho San Diego was sentenced Friday Jack Dennis Potter was ordered to prison for years to life for the murder of Laurie Diane Potter Potter was arrested in in connection with the death of the victim whose remains were exposed Oct in a trash bin at an apartment complex on Hilton Head Court Investigative genetic genealogy aided investigators in identifying Laurie Potter according to sheriff s agents who disclosed it was the first time the device was used to identify a homicide victim in the San Diego region Potter pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder Deputy District Attorney Julie Lynn stated a large number of specific details of the killing remain unknown other than Potter smothered his wife and dismembered her After his wife s disappearance prosecutors say the defendant maintained the fiction that she was alive by opening credit cards in her name and filing fraudulent family court documents in which he claimed he had spoken with her The falsified documents allowed him to sell the Temecula home he shared with his wife and keep the proceeds of the sale according to prosecutors He also gave several high-priced gifts to a new girlfriend shortly after his wife s remains were detected including an SUV a ski boat a credit card and an apartment according to the San Diego County District Attorney s Office At Potter s sentencing hearing Laurie Potter s son John Carlson explained he d lost touch with his mother over the years but made efforts to re-establish contact and renew their relationship While trying to reach his mother Carlson noted he was recounted by Jack Potter My mother just demanded to be alone which unfortunately I considered And this really hurts to this day Carlson stated he had trusted Potter who at the time seemed like the perfect guy for her He was the last person that I suspected would ever do something like that At the conclusion of his comment Carlson declared he forgave Potter in part because of a letter he received from the defendant which Carlson commented included sincere expressions of remorse Prior to being sentenced Potter explained I just want to apologize for what happened I loved my wife very much I let my emotions get the better of me that one time I don t know why It just happened and I m sorry After the hearing District Attorney Summer Stephan in a comment praised the efforts of investigators and prosecutors saying Their dedication and refusal to give up on this event no matter how much time passed led to this long-overdue resolution
