According the criminal complaint, 27-year-old Robert Phipps used a five-pound metal object to beat Alicia Hatzinger to death, before stealing several electronic items from her parent's house.
Phipps made his first appearance in Dane county court today, for the incident that allegedly took place two weeks ago, on September 18th.
The complaint says Phipps entered Hatzinger's home with his cousin waiting for him in the driveway.
While inside, investigators say Phipps starting arguing with Hatzinger.
The argument then led to a scuffle and ended with Phipps bludgeoning Hatzinger with the five-pound metal device.
An autopsy on Hatzinger later revealed she also had screwdriver stab wounds to her neck, but it was the blunt force trauma to her head that killed her.
Phipps is facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide, as well as armed robbery charges.
Paris Phipps, the man police think waited in the driveway and left with Robert Phipps, is also facing charges related to that incident.
Paris Phipps has another court appearance scheduled for this Thursday.
Robert Phipps will make his next court appearance later this month.
