Man accused of killing local woman takes own life
WARTBURG — A Morgan County man accused of killing a pregnant Scott County woman earlier this year died in an apparent suicide at the Morgan County Jail last week.
Robert Stoll, 40, was found dead in his jail cell early Wednesday (May 28) morning. An autopsy is being conducted, but investigators say that the cause of death was suicide.
Stoll faced two counts of second degree murder, which stemmed from a February shooting that claimed the life of a 25-year-old Pioneer woman and her unborn child.
Authorities alleged that Stoll fired a shot into a vehicle occupied by four persons and driven by Jessica Hatmaker after an apparent burglary at his residence near Oakdale.
Hatmaker, who was eight months pregnant, died of a gunshot wound a short time later at a Wartburg medical center. A passenger in the vehicle, Audie Ellis, 27, of Robbins, was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. Two other passengers in the vehicle — Hatmaker’s 14-month-old son and a man described as her boyfriend — were not injured.
Authorities alleged that someone in the car had stolen an automobile radiator from Stoll’s property. As the vehicle pulled away, Stoll allegedly fired one shot from a .30-30 rifle at the vehicle. No additional charges were filed in relation to the incident.
Authorities said that Stoll had called 911 to report that his radiator had been stolen, but that he did not report firing a shot at the vehicle. Allegedly, he later gave a statement to investigators in which he admitted firing a shot at the vehicle.
Stoll had reportedly made a court appearance on those homicide charges the day before his death.