BOONVILLE, Ind. — The man accused of fatally shooting a 20-year-old University of Southern Indiana student last year has been found guilty of murder and felony murder.
Twenty-three year old Isaiah Hagan was also found guilty of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice in the death of Halee Rathgerber. The jury returned its verdict Monday afternoon after several hours of deliberation. The jurors’ decision has to be unanimous for a person to be found guilty. The second phase of Hagan’s trial starts Thursday morning. Attorneys will present evidence of mitigating and aggravating circumstances related to Rathgerber’s murder, and the jury will decide whether or not to recommend a sentence of life without parole.
Rathgerber was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head near a Warrick County soccer complex in April 2017.
Attorneys for both sides drew together the evidence given in close to a month long trial during their final arguments Monday. The trial began May 30. It was the second attempt at trying Hagan on the charges after a mistrial was declared in early May.
