Witnesses In OKC Murder Trial Testify Suspect Possibly Attacked Victim Before

Oklahoma County prosecutors have called more than a dozen witnesses in the cold case murder trial for Robert Hashagen. He was charged with the 2013 beating death of 94-year-old Evelyn Goodall in her northwest Oklahoma City home.

Several witnesses on Wednesday testified that they suspected Hashagen was involved in a burglary and attack on the elderly victim three years prior to the attack that took her life.

“She was very brave after being attacked the first time,” said Ellen Mercer, victim’s friend. “And just decided she would soldier on.”

Mercer was a long-time neighbor and friend to Goodall. Mercer testified in court on Wednesday that Goodall was like a mother to her. She fondly recalled their chats over coffee and Goodall’s love of nature.

“She always delighted in the smells and sounds and colors of nature,” said Mercer.

Mercer has been waiting years for Hashagen's trial.

He was arrested in 2017, four years after he allegedly broke into Goodall’s home and beat her. Police said her hands and wrists were bound with duct tape and furniture was stacked on top of her. Goodall was able to free herself to call 911. She died two days later.

The investigator who interviewed Goodall in the hospital got emotional on the stand remembering her badly beaten and bruised body. He also spoke about the similarities of the crime to the 2010 attack.

Hashagen's attorneys argued that while Goodall was able to describe her attacker, she did not recognize him or know him.

As for Mercer, she said Goodall never mentioned Hashagen in any of their talks. She now knows him as the person accused of killing her friend.

“I’m just really anxious for it to be over,” said Mercer. “So, I don’t know what the outcome will be, but justice is what I want.”

Hashagan was only charged with one count of first-degree murder. He was never arrested or charged for the 2010 incident. He claims his innocence in both crimes.