Local man charged with radiator theft
A Scott County man has been charged with theft over $1,000 after allegedly stealing parts from a loader owned by Winfield-based C&G Transportation.
Audie R. Ellis, age 29, of Robbins, was charged in connection with the theft of a radiator and oil cooler from the loader, valued at $2,500.
Charges were filed by Winfield Police Department Inv. Rob Reed following an investigation that included the assistance of Oneida Police Department Inv. Daryl Laxton and K-9 Officer Stephen Ward, as well as the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department.
Ellis was wounded earlier this year by a gunshot that killed 25-year-old Jessica Hatmaker of Pioneer. That incident, which occurred near the Oakdale community of Morgan County, led to the arrest of Robert Stoll, 40, of the Bitter Creek community. Stoll told authorities that he fired into the vehicle occupied by Hatmaker and Ellis because someone in the car had stolen an automobile radiator from his property.
Stoll was charged with two counts of second degree murder, but no charges were filed in connection with the alleged theft.