APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Eric Rogers was ordered Thursday to stand trial for allegedly killing another man at what police say is known drug house.
Rogers, 53, is accused of shooting Eric Hudson, 31, last Nov. 15. Rogers has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, robbery, taking a vehicle without owner’s consent and bail jumping.
A police investigator testified at a preliminary hearing Thursday. During cross examination from Rogers’ attorney, he admitted the evidence against Rogers is circumstantial.
Rogers’ arraignment date was not immediately set.
Just before 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, Appleton police officers were dispatched to 715 W. Summer Street for a reported death.
Upon arrival, officers found two men in the driveway with their hands up, claiming to be the callers. Officers then found Hudson, dead, lying on the mattress in the bedroom at the top of the stairs. The officer saw gunshot wounds near Hudson’s ear but did not find a gun.
An SUV, belonging to Rogers, was parked in the driveway. Police believe Rogers lived at the house, which the Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Unit said was a known drug house.
According to the criminal complaint, Hudson’s girlfriend said Hudson left their apartment early in the morning on Nov. 15 to play cards. He left in a silver Buick, which he was borrowing from someone else. His girlfriend said Hudson did not return home that morning. Just before noon, she said people arrived at her house, telling her that Hudson had been shot by Rogers.
The owner of the Buick reported the car as stolen when Hudson was found, saying she had only given him permission to use the car. Investigators suspected that Rogers took the car after shooting Hudson. Investigators obtained video that showed the Buick leaving the neighborhood shortly after 10:30 a.m.
The next day, police found the Buick on Smith Street in Green Bay.
On Nov. 17, Rogers’ wife called police, telling them she suspected he was in Green Bay.
Police tracked down a person who lent his phone to Rogers. That person said he advised Rogers to go to a Green Bay homeless shelter. That’s where police found and arrested Rogers. He was jailed on a probation and parole warrant.
After being arrested, Rogers said the Summer Street home was used to sell prescription pills, meth and cocaine. He said Hudson would pay him with cocaine to use the house, which was often used for sex and selling drugs.
Rogers said that he owed Hudson money, so he went to an Appleton gas station to sell food stamps to pay him back. But he says he ended up using the money to get high after a friend drove him to Green Bay. But police say he returned to the Summer Street house instead.
According to the criminal complaint, Rogers said that when he left the Summer Street house, Hudson, who he said was “a good friend of his,” was asleep.
Rogers said he did not take the Buick and did not know how Hudson had been killed — police said they never said that Hudson had been killed, just that he was dead.
The criminal complaint does not provide any direct evidence tying Rogers to the shooting but explains that his DNA was found on the key and steering wheel of the Buick, which Rogers denies driving.
If convicted on the homicide charge, Rogers will face life in prison. If convicted of the other charges, Rogers could also face fines of over $100,000 and an additional 30-year sentence.
