Man Allegedly Strangled Ex, Who Had Just Lost Her Mom, Before Dumping Body In State Park

An Upstate New York man is accused of strangling his ex, who was mourning the recent loss of her mom, to death before dumping her body in a state park.

Vermont woman Morgan Bates, 20, was reported missing on Feb. 22 but that turned into a death investigation five days later when her body was discovered in a state park near Albany, according to a Friday press release from the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. 

By Friday evening, deputies arrested a man they believe is responsible for her death: Ian J. Hasselwander, age 22, of Petersburg, a town located not far from the Vermont border. They have charged him with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree strangulation, and concealment of a human corpse.

Hasselwander has been arraigned and is being held without bail. Law enforcement stated Friday that they are not releasing any further details.

The victim’s father William Bates has stated that Hasselwander is his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, according to the Albany Times Union. She had just lost her mother in January, one month before she vanished.

"Morgan you are my world, my life and my rock. You will always be my angel,” the grieving father posted on Facebook following her death, according to the Times Union.

He has vowed to make sure the person responsible for killing her is held accountable.

"Now my main thing is now to get justice for my daughter,” he stated. “I will not give up on that." 

Morgan Bates’ obituary states that she “loved horses” and most recently worked at Saratoga Stables in Saratoga, New York.

The slain woman also liked four-wheeling and hunting.

“Law enforcement has worked around the clock on this case since Morgan Bates disappeared. This was certainly not the outcome we had hoped for. This arrest is the first step towards justice for Morgan and her family,” District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly stated on Friday.

It’s not clear if Hasselwander has an attorney.