Verdict reached in trial for co-defendant in Morgan Bauer death case
Bauer disappeared in Georgia in February 2016; Her remains were discovered in 2023
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A verdict has been reached in the trial of a woman believed to be involved in the 2016 disappearance and murder of a woman whose remains were found in Georgia.
Katelyn Goble was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, concealing a death and tampering with evidence in the case of Morgan Bauer, a 19-year-old South Dakota woman who had only moved to Georgia about two weeks before she went missing in February 2016.
The jury reached its verdict late Monday. Sentencing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Victim moved to Georgia weeks before disappearance
In January 2024, Jonathan Alexander Warren pleaded guilty in Newton County to malice murder, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of another and necrophilia. He is currently serving life in prison without parole.
Bauer was last seen near a park in Porterdale before her disappearance.
In July 2023, search efforts ramped back up for Bauer, who had been missing for seven years at that point. Law enforcement said new evidence led them to a Newton County property, and investigators scoured a home on Broad Street, near the Yellow River.
Bauer’s remains were found in Porterdale in 2023, according to the FBI.
In August, Warren was arrested in Los Angeles, California, and Goble was arrested in Peoria, Illinois. In October, the two were indicted in Newton County.
Closing arguments
In closing arguments, the prosecution argued Goble is just as guilty as Warren, calling both of them “psychopaths.”
“Because of her, a beautiful young life was taken from this world,” the prosecution said.
The prosecution said Goble lured Bauer to the house in Porterdale where she was killed.
“She wanted to do this,” the prosecution said. “She lured Morgan to the house in Porterdale because she wanted to kill her, because she was obsessed with death and serial killers and dismemberment.”
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