Petersburgh man sentenced in Rensselaer County murder trial

TROY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday that a Petersburgh man was sentenced after being found guilty for the murder of Morgan Bates, 20, of Eagle Bridge in July. Ian Hasselwander, 24, faces 25 years to life for second-degree murder and 15 years to life for first-degree strangulation.

Bates was reported missing on February 22, 2022, and police recovered her body under “suspicious circumstances” on February 27, 2022, in a wooded area off Black River Road in Stephentown. Police arrested Hasselwander on March 4, 2022, in connection with her death.

Hasselwander also faces five years of probation if released from prison.

“This was a joint investigation by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office. Assisting in the investigation were members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Forest Rangers, New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC), and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center (CRCAC),” said Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf who prosecuted Hasselwander.

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