OKC man arrested in 94-year-old’s killing
For years, Lily Gower feared her aunt’s 2013 killing would go unsolved.
But on Tuesday, Oklahoma City police made an arrest in the cold case, a former neighbor who lived only two doors down from the victim at the time.
“Yes, we are happy,” Gower told The Oklahoman on Wednesday. “Usually you think they would never find anybody, so I guess this is a blessing.”
Robert Leon Hashagen III, 53, is accused of violently assaulting Evelyn Goodall, 94, during a home burglary early July 5, 2013. She died at a hospital from blunt force trauma two days after the attack, according to the state medical examiner.
Hashagen was arrested Tuesday on a murder complaint after DNA testing connected him to evidence at the crime scene, Oklahoma City police reported Wednesday. He denied killing the victim during questioning before the DNA testing, police reported.
DNA testing also revealed this wasn’t the first time Hashagen has assaulted the victim and burglarized her home, police reported in an arrest affidavit filed in Oklahoma County District Court.
Early Aug. 18, 2010, Goodall was attacked by a home intruder, requiring her to be hospitalized. In both incidents, the intruder cut screens
to gain access to the home, attacked the victim and tried to clean away evidence afterward, police reported.
At the time of the burglaries, Hashagen was living with his sister and brother-in-law two doors down from the victim, police reported. The brother-in-law declined comment Wednesday.
2013 homicide
About 6:30 a.m. July 5, 2013, Goodall was sitting in her dining room when a man bolted through her back door, distracted her by throwing powder in her direction and then assaulted her, police reported.
“The suspect duct taped the arms and legs of the victim and then placed furniture on top of her to confine the victim, while the suspect went through the house,” according to the affidavit.
Police reported the intruder wore a wig and put on the victim’s clothes to hide his identity. The man also attempted to destroy evidence by throwing powder and pouring water around the house, according to the affidavit.
Goodall later was able to crawl to the phone and call police. She was found “completely covered in blood from her head to her feet,” a responding officer reported.
Goodall told the officer that she left her back door slightly ajar while she ate breakfast and a man rushed in and threw her to the ground. She lived alone at 3526 NW 20.
Her niece said Goodall was in good health and enjoyed bird watching and gardening. Goodall never married and had no children.
“She lived a pretty reclusive life,” Gower said. “She didn’t have money in her house.”
Gower, of south Oklahoma City, said she doesn’t think Goodall knew Hashagen. Gower also said she doesn’t think much had ever been stolen from her aunt because she didn’t have much.
Other evidence
Police reported the duct tape used in the 2013 attack was a “special kind of duct tape” used by a heating and air conditioning business. Hashagen had worked for a business that would give him access to the tape, according to the affidavit.
Witnesses described Hashagen as a “doper who was an odd person in the neighborhood who should be looked at,” according to the affidavit. One witness said Hashagen was seen with “weird items” after the burglary, including a makeup bag and hairbrush.
Police reported Hashagen has been convicted in the past of methamphetamine and firearm offenses. He also has arrests related to domestic abuse complaints, records show.
Hashagen admitted to using meth around the time of the killing, police reported. He also said he was a former police officer, having worked in Valley Brook, Meeker and for a hospital police force, according to the affidavit.
In the 2010 case, DNA found on the victim’s bra was linked to Hashagen, police reported. In the 2013 case, DNA found on a toilet paper roll was linked to him, police reported.
Hashagen is a mechanic, police said. He was arrested at his Oklahoma City garage apartment in the 1600 block of SW 33, police said.
He is being held in the Oklahoma County jail. He has been denied bail.