State v. Rogers

A jury found Timmy Rogers guilty of murdering his paramour’s husband, Fred Engel. Rogers argues the trial court erred when it refused to direct a verdict in his favor. We affirm.

I. Background

In the early morning hours of April 22, 2008, police found Engel’s body in the woods near a bank of mailboxes in the subdivision where he lived. A forensic pathologist determined the killer strangled Engel to death. Three months later, a grand jury indicted Rogers for murder.

At trial, the State theorized Rogers killed Engel because Rogers was having an affair with Engel’s wife Sherry. Sherry testified for…