Home ·  Classifieds ·  MyVLT2.com ·  VolTV2Go.com ·  Volzeye.com ·  Desktop Alert
Man faces two counts of murder after killing of woman, unborn child Save Email Print
Posted: 11:50 AM Feb 11, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:21 AM Feb 12, 2008
 Reporter: Jim Freeman
19 comments
A | A | A

WARTBURG, Tenn (WVLT) -- A young mother-to-be from Scott County is dead, and a Harriman man charged with killing her and her unborn baby.

It's an investigation with a lot of unanswered questions.

Volunteer TV's Jim Freeman has more.

We're getting answers to lots of questions surrounding this morning's fatal shooting in Morgan County.

Police tell us a radiator was stolen and shots were fired.

25 year old Jessica Hatmaker and her unborn child are dead as the result of a single gunshot wound.

it happened in Bitter Creek area in Oakdale.

Sheriff Dennis Ledbetter outlines what happened.

"A vehicle pulled in there and stole some property there and the vehicle was leaving and shots were fired and a short time later we had a vehicle show up at the ambulatory car center in Wartburg with 2 victims in the vehicle that had been shot."

Police then went to the home of Robert Stoll on US 27.

"He was there. He admitted to firing the shot."

Hatmaker and a passenger Audie Ellis were shot.

Ellis suffered wounds to the leg.

Ledbetter continues, "shots went into the vehicle and into the back seat and struck the driver of the vehicle."

Sheriff Ledbetter says Hatmaker was driving until she collapsed.

Then her boyfriend, Dustin Gunter, put her in the passenger seat and drove on to the ambulatory care center.

That's where things took a turn for the worse.

"She was later pronounced dead. Also she had an 8 month fetus inside her that was also pronounced dead."

Stoll remains in the Morgan County Jail.

"There will be 2 charges of second degree murder and charges are pending against the other person in the vehicle."

Sheriff Ledbetter says there may be further charges placed upon Gunter and Ellis with regard to the stolen radiator.

Bond for Stoll has not been set.

Nor has a court date.
More Stories
Tennessee Unveils Latest Neyland Stadium Renovations

Chattanooga police recover lost Taser

Loudon Co. facing 3rd highest teen pregnancy rate in Tennessee

MADD, law enforcement gear up for holiday DUI crackdown

 Tennessee to help pay for cell phones for needy

Man killed, child hurt when tree falls on truck

Roane Co. woman arrested, charged with TennCare fraud in M. Tennessee

Prosecutors seek to try accused Central High School shooter as adult
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Doreen Location: MI on Feb 17, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I would like to let the family and friends of Jessica know that I am truly sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers. Do not let the comments on this site upset you. I am certain all cold and negative comments are members of Stolls family. It is obvious That Stoll is guilty. With his past record he will only get worse. As for Gunter and Ellis, they should do time as well. May God bless you and help you through this.
Posted by: Sam Location: TN on Feb 17, 2008 at 09:26 AM
My Dear Melba, I know that you care about Robert and his dad deaply. However this was not self defense since they were already driving away...This was murder in the first degree and committed by anger. Steeling the radiator may have been what started it but he still made a conscience choice to kill them. Most people in jail for murder have loved ones at home such as yourself and Robert. People can not base a conviction on the family of the criminal. If he gets away with something this bad, what will he do next. If the shoe was on the other foot, how would you feel? I hope for yoursake and Robert's he gets some anger management leasons while he is in prison so he doesn't do it again if and when he comes out.
Posted by: Melba Location: Morgan on Feb 16, 2008 at 09:37 PM
I know tha this was a terrible thing.Did anyone think of Robert's son?Think of what he's going through?His father pertects him and his home,now his dad's in jail.What does that tell you?The man had a gun pointing at Robert.What if the man shot his gun and hit Robert's son.Is'nt that child indangerment on the theives?Or even intent to kill?,Pointing a gun at someone.I always thought it was.Robert did'nt know what the theives were going to do.Robert did'nt do anything wrong.Now his son is scared for his dad.His son probbly don't understand why his dad's in jail and the theives are out.They are probbly doing the same thing.I bet other people are afarid to pertect what's theirs.They don't want to end up like Robert,for pertecting what's theirs.What happend to the 2nd.amendment?The right to bare arms,pertect what's your's?Anyone in the N.R.A.?I'm sure you all would do the same.How about all of you go to his next court date,show him some type of support.3-6-08Morgan Co. court house. I'm goin
Posted by: Shannon Location: Nashville on Feb 16, 2008 at 09:11 PM
This is the saddest thing I have read in a long time. My heart breaks for the family and friends of this young lady and her unborn child. I hope her loved ones haven't read the comments that people wrote in response to this. It is sad to know that people would ever think this was a proper punishment. Shame on you!
Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 16, 2008 at 09:05 PM
This is Melissa Stoll again.Robert neeeds a good lawyer.His pub.att.told him she was to busy to talk to him.Please if there's any att. that would like to take this case Probono,please let me know.Jessica was known to do drugs.So were the other people she was with.How stupid can you be to pull into someones drive in the day with them home?You'd have to be on drugs.You live in Tenn. everyone owns a gun!!!If they don't you need to get one.You may the next victum of theft,or worse.I feel for the family of Jessica.I'm sorry it happend.Robert should'nt be in jail for pertecting himself,our son,or property.They were the ones that drove to our home.They knew what they were doing when they left home.If the man didnt point the gun at Robert,Robert would of never went for his gun.Now our son is without a father.His other 18yr. son is off to Iraq.Robert just became a grandfather and may never be able to see his first grandson.This man had a gun pointing at Robert.You need to know this.
Posted by: laurie Location: mi on Feb 16, 2008 at 08:53 PM
this story is so sad!!! So many people affected. A young mother of a little girl 3 and a little boy 14 months, and a baby who's future only a mother could imagine...and now 2 kids are motherless. Do you truely believe if this case went to court that she would have gotten the death penalty. Grandparents, awaiting the arrival of another grandchild, now having to care and also explain to them why their mom is not coming home. And knowing her daughter will never again walk through the door. A sister who couldn't wait to spoil a new little one. Yet if this case would have gotten to court for theft of a radiator and the sentencing would have been death, everyone would have been up in a fit because the punishment did'nt fit the crime. This story has 2 sides we are trying to bring up kids to understand that guns are not the answer yet elders believe it is. What's this teach kids and why are we surprised when awful things happen in schools because they're not taught to control anger.
Posted by: Dee Location: TN on Feb 16, 2008 at 08:20 PM
I am appauled with the comments for this sad incident that occured. This was a tragedy. A theft of an inadimate object should be handle through the law not death. If people feel that this death was justifable due to a theft of a car part, then maybe we should all get a hand gun and shoot anyone who breaks the law no matter how trivial. Forgoodness sakes, why don't we let all the murder's out of jail... since I am sure they all feel they had just cause for their actions. We can use all the money we save by not housing inmates for "justifiable" crimes and we would all have new radiators.
Posted by: Maria Location: Michigan on Feb 16, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Seriously, there is nothing that anyone could do outside of murder that means that they deserve to lose thier life. I could understand if it was self (SELF, as in his LIFE) defense, which it wasn't. So what all of you people are trying to tell people is that the price of her life was a car part. Come on people, get some common sense and grow up.. "She paid the price"? Seriously, go tell her family that.
Posted by: k Location: knoxville on Feb 13, 2008 at 04:27 PM
The man was protecting his property, he had no clue there was a pregnant woman driving the getaway car! He should not be in jail-period.
Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 13, 2008 at 02:52 PM
she is responsible for her actions and she paid the price. for every action there is an equal reaction. they acted the shooter reacted. he may have over reacted but they put him in the situation.
Posted by: Ray Location: Anderson Co. on Feb 13, 2008 at 01:45 PM
If it were a horse in Texas they would have had a party. It is sad that a young mother and her baby lost their lives but association with the wrong people placed her there, not the defendant. The moral of the story is, there are consequences for your actions and robbery/theft can get you killed. In either case I feel the man was in the right in protecting his property. If you try to steal from me you had better expect to dodge a few shots!
Posted by: Jobob Location: Blount Co, Tn on Feb 12, 2008 at 11:45 PM
I agree this was bad for the child. On the other hand the mother got what she deserved. To bad he missed the other theives. If more people protected their property with a gun, there would be less theft. The police have the wrong person in jail. People have a right to protect their property. Keep your guns loaded. In Blount Co, Tn if the theives take less than 1,000 dollars they don't even take finger prints or anything. They are only geared for protecting the wealthy.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Morgan Co on Feb 12, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Yeah I think it is a terrible thing the Mother and baby lost their life over a petty theft,It was a radiator that was worth about $15 maybe.But if you ask me Stoll needs to be locked up because isnt there a saying" dont take the law into you own hands" I think Morgan Co has an excellent police department and they could have handled this without anyone dying. It would be different if they had tried to take Stolls life but that wasnt the case!So to you in Anderson Co,if you are saying that the death of that poor mother and baby was deserved you need help! There was no justice in that! There will be justice when Stoll gets Locked up for life! No material thing in this world is worth killing someone over. He could have lived without the stupid radiator.And now he has to live with knowing he took 2 lives for a measly little 15 bucks. I dont agree with people stealing But I have never heard of anyone getting the death penalty for theiving it could have been settled without anyone dying!
Posted by: Lindsay Location: Union County on Feb 12, 2008 at 10:39 PM
This is horrible!!! i think he only has right to the law of protecting yourself and property if they enter the house. Also, I hate how they call an 8 month unborn baby a "fetus" He will get whats coming to him.
Posted by: Amanda Location: Wartburg on Feb 12, 2008 at 07:43 PM
I am glad to see Robert in jail where he belongs. I'm not saying that stealing is ok but with or without his radiatior he is still on this earth breathing like the rest of us when Jessica and that innocent baby will nolonger do. And to the comment posted by Anonymous I have lived in Morgan County all my life and I LOVE IT. I'm just glad that people like you dont live here!!!!
Posted by: tina on Feb 12, 2008 at 06:58 PM
These people chose to steal - what happened to them is their fault. People make their own choices and unfortunately the bad ones can have bad consequences.
Posted by: confused Location: Knox on Feb 12, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Why is a 8 month pregnant unwed women driving around committing crimes? She didn't care about her child. Why should I? Let the man protecting his property go.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Anderon Co on Feb 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Loss of the baby is terrible, but this man SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN taken to jail. Of course he didn;t mean to kill the mom and baby, it was accidental, and you have to protect your property in Morgan "meth haven" County. There are some other theives in the area that need a cap in their a**es too, this would make people think twice before trespassing. Morgan COunty law is amazing to me, lots of druggies are out roaming and pilfering, and this man is in jail for protecting his property, this is typical for this area, sad but true, be glad if you do not live there.
Posted by: Mariea Location: Morgan Co on Feb 11, 2008 at 03:43 PM
God be with the family of the mother who lost her life today. They are in my prayers. My heart goes out to them. How can things like this happen? I just don't understand.
DAYS HRS MINS SECS
 
Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - EEO Statement - FCC Form 388
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2008 - Designed and Powered by Clickability