Cedar Rapids man will serve 50 years Theodore Gathercole sentenced for stabbing, robbing neighbor

Frederick Rottmiller said in a victim's impact statement that his future is unclear because his life expectancy has been shortened due to the multiple stab wounds he suffered last year.

'My doctors predict further hospitalization and surgeries,” said Rottmiller, 72.

Rottmiller was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen, the front and back of his neck and one eye June 16, 2013 because he offered to give Theodore Gathercole a ride instead of money. He has spinal cord damage and is wheelchair bound.

'I want to express my appreciation to the jury and ask Mr. Gathercole why?” Rottmiller said as he looked at Gathercole.

Gathercole, 52, of Cedar Rapids, had no reaction and expressed no remorse; instead he told the judge this was a case of mistaken identity. What happened to Rottmiller was committed by a 'mean, cruel person” and that wasn't him, he said. He said he hopes the 'real” person who harmed Rottmiller will be caught some day.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Stephen Jackson Jr. sentenced Gathercole to 50 years in prison. He was convicted by a jury Feb. 7 of first-degree robbery, attempted murder and willful injury causing serious injury. The robbery and attempted murder sentences will ran consecutively and the willful injury charge merges with first-degree robbery, as a lesser included charge, and it is dismissed, according to Iowa Code.

Gathercole will have to serve 70 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Jackson said he stacked the sentences because of Gathercole's 'complete lack of remorse” and because it was 'senseless and brutal, and no reason why such an event should have occurred.”

According to testimony at trial, Gathercole asked Rottmiller for money to take a cab or other transportation downtown but Rottmiller agreed to give him a ride instead of money. Gathercole had borrowed $20 from Rottmiller earlier in the day.

Rottmiller testified at trial he had no doubt that Gathercole was the person who attacked him that day. Rottmiller lived in the same apartment building as Gathercole and also was the maintenance man for the building.

Rottmiller said he was attacked as he went to open the passenger side door for Gathercole.

At some point Rottmiller saw a knife and remembered falling to the ground, lying halfway under his truck. Much later, a man found Rottmiller and stopped a cabdriver to call 911. During trial, the defense played a police interview where Gathercole denied stabbing Rottmiller. He said he was not at the apartment building at the time.

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