Hutto enters guilty plea in murder case

The man accused of killing William “Bo” Kirk pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and robbery.

David Earl Hutto changed his plea during a quickly scheduled hearing in front of First District Judge Scott Wayman.

A fourth criminal charge Hutto faced, for arson, was dropped as part of a plea agreement, said Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh.

Kirk, 41, was found dead Tuesday, Oct. 25 in the Hayden Creek area of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. He went missing Oct. 22 after leaving his job at Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls around 7 p.m.

Hutto was arrested Oct. 27 and with bail set at $2 million, he has remained in custody.

Investigators determined Hutto followed Kirk to his Coeur d’Alene home after a road rage incident, and then kidnapped him and shot him to death. The night Kirk went missing his 2015 GMC truck was found burning on Rimrock Road in the northern section of the county, leading to the arson charge.

Hutto was charged with robbery for taking Kirk’s truck and ATM card by means of force and/or fear by pointing a pistol at Kirk.

He will not face the death penalty.

Prosecutor McHugh told The Press the maximum possible penalty Hutto faces is life imprisonment on each of the charges.

Hutto’s sentencing is scheduled for April 10 at 9 a.m.