Orem reels from slaying

OREM — There's a garden growing behind the red brick house at 872 N. Main that neighbor Pamela Robbins wonders if she should water.

She watched Christopher Kirsch plant it with the help of his son, Michael.

"He was always helping his parents out in the yard," Robbins said of the 31-year-old man who recently moved back home. "The last two things I saw him doing were painting the cinder-block wall, together (with his dad) as always, and Michael working in the front yard. I waved to him; he waved to me."

But neither father nor son will be back to water, weed or harvest the fruits of their labors together.

Michael Kirsch was arrested Sunday morning, accused of fatally stabbing his father 26 times with a 10-inch meat-carving knife after an argument in their Orem home.

He is being held in the Utah County Jail for investigation of aggravated murder and aggravated assault on a $1 million cash-only bail. The assault allegation stems from a cut suffered on the hand by his mother, Elaine Kirsch.

"There have been many victims as a result of this tragedy," Elaine Kirsch wrote in a statement she left with her LDS bishop. "Mental illness has robbed our family. We love our son and we know he loved us."

Neighborhood friends, professional colleagues and members of the Kirsches' ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are still in shock over the tragedy, trying to come to terms with the death of Christopher Kirsch and the arrest of his son.

"It's a loss for our students, faculty and staff," said Chris Taylor, spokesman for Utah Valley State College, where Christopher Kirsch taught since 2003 as an adjunct professor of geography and Latin American history. "He's served five years here and served our students very well. But more importantly, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this very difficult time."

The campus flag flew at half-staff Monday in honor of the educator, Taylor said.

Before coming to the academic world, Christopher Kirsch worked with DHL International and oversaw business operations across Latin America for 16 years, according to UVSC.

Elaine Kirsch is also a teacher, working with special-education students in the Alpine School District.

Another son, Nicholas, has served repeated deployments to Iraq with the U.S. Marines.

Fellow teachers from Greenwood Elementary in American Fork stopped by the Kirsch house Monday afternoon to offer support and love, although Elaine was out-of-town with extended family.

"She's just innately giving," said Cathy Matheson, principal at Greenwood. "She teaches special ed, and these kids have special needs and she ... knows how to connect with them."

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