Missing New York Woman Found Dead in State Park

A 22-year-old New York man has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a woman whose body was found five days after she was reported missing.

Morgan Bates, 20, was reported missing on February 22. Her body was found Sunday in Cherry Plain State Park in Petersburg.

The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office said it had arrested Ian J. Hasselwander on Friday, charging him with second degree murder, first degree assault, first degree strangulation, and concealment of a human corpse.

Hasselwander was arraigned on Troy City Court and ordered held without bail. His next court date has not been set.

Multiple agencies worked the case, the sheriff’s office said.

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

No further information was released.

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[Featured image: Morgan Bates. Inset: Ian Hasselwander/Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office]