Dade County man convicted of murder
A Dade County jury convicted a Trenton man this week of murdering his 81-year-old mother.
On March 4, 2022, Roger Allen Shrader, 59, was found by Dade County Sheriff’s Office deputies next to the body of his deceased mother at a residence on Sand Mountain’s Brow Road.
The victim, Lagatha “Cathy” Watson, had been assaulted and nearly decapitated with a machete and mattock, according to a release from the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties.
After a three-day trial, Shrader was convicted Wednesday of eight counts, including malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. The jury found Shrader guilty but mentally ill, which means he may receive mental health treatment during his sentence if prison officials find it necessary.
A sentencing date has not been scheduled, but Shrader faces a minimum sentence of life in prison under Georgia law, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“Justice was delivered today in Trenton,” District Attorney Clay Fuller said in a news release. “I’d like to thank my prosecution team and law enforcement partners for their work on this case — because it certainly took a toll on them. We all hope that this brings some measure of peace to the victim’s family.”
Evidence presented at the trial showed Shrader has suffered from mental health issues since childhood but had refused treatment, the District Attorney’s Office said. Shrader’s legal council argued insanity for his defense, but Shrader testified he knew he had done a “terrible thing” and knew his mother was not a threat to him though he was suffering from delusions at the time of the offense.
“Under Georgia law, the insanity defense is only applicable if a defendant cannot distinguish between right and wrong at the time of the offense,” the release said. “Or if they are suffering from a delusional compulsion which, under the facts of the delusion, would justify their actions.”
Shrader was arrested March 4, 2022. The release said Shrader apologized to the victim’s husband outside the home as Shrader was being loaded into a patrol vehicle. The release also said Shrader gave a full confession later that day.