James Utterback

Born: November 12, 1928

Died: July 11, 1998

Married: Anne Cole

Children: Kim

Dr. James Gregg Utterback, Jr., was associate pathologist at Saranac Lake General Hospital from March 1, 1962 to January 15, 1963.

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Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 10, 1969

UTTERBACK BODY RUMORS ARE QUELLED

No Sign Of Violence

CORNING, N.Y. (AP) - Steuben County Dist. Atty. Donald G Purple said today there were no outward signs of violence in the death of Mrs. Anne Utterback, whose body was found in a tool shed last Thursday. Her husband is part-time pathologist for the county.

Purple called a news conference, he said, to end rumors and speculation into the death of Mrs. Utterback, 34. Her body, wrapped in a swimming pool liner, was discovered in a toolshed at the home where she lived with her husband, Dr. James G. Utterback Jr., 40, Dr. Utterback has been charged with violating the Public Health Law. Police said he failed to notify authorities that his wife was dead.

Purple said the investigation was continuing "because of certain findings and because of the decayed condition of the body." He said the body was taken to Rochester where the Monroe County medical examiner would perform other tests on it "which will take an indefinite amount of time.”

Purple would not comment when reporters asked if there was any connection between the death of the family dog, also found at the home, and Mrs. Utterbacks death.

Mrs. Utterback had been dead about a month before her body was found. It had been placed in the liner which was covered with a sleeping bag, dried reeds and a lawn chair.

Utterback was held in Steuben County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

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Adirondack Daily Enterprise, January 2, 1970

Dr. Utterback Is Freed In Steuben County Case

Bath. N.Y. Dec. 31 (AP)— A doctor who hid his wife's body in October was freed from jail today after he pleaded guilty to a public health charge. He had been jailed since Nov. 6 when the decomposed body was discovered.

Dr. James G. Utterback, Jr. 40; of nearby Mitchellville was released from Steuben County Jail after a judge accepted his guilty plea on a charge of failing to notify authorities of a death occurring without medical attention.

Dr. Utterback lived in Saranac Lake when he was associate pathologist at Saranac Lake General Hospital from March 1, 1962 to Jan. 15, 1963.

Peace Justice Melvin Partridge of the Town of Wheeler ordered Utterback to abstain from alcoholic beverages and dangerous drugs and to report his Whereabouts to the court for a year.

Utterback's wife, Anne, 34, disappeared in October. He told neighbors and relatives that she had left him.

Relatives however, insisted on an investigation that ended, police said when Utterback led them to her body, hidden in a shed on the couple's farm. Police said there was no sign of violence on the body. An autopsy was performed but the results have not been announced.

Partridge ordered the release after accepting Utterback's plea with the consent of District Attorney Donald G. Purple.

Utterback and his wife moved to this area from Bangor, Me., early this year. After a brief period of private practice he joined the staff of the Bath Veterans Administration Center as a pathologist, a post he resigned Oct. 10.

The couple's daughter, Kim, 3, is in temporary custody of the county social services department.