newsminer.com

WASILLA, Alaska — The trial of the 29-year-old man accused of murdering his father with a machete in Palmer is set for next week.

Christopher Erin Rogers Jr. is also accused of gunning down another man in Anchorage in what police have called a day-long series of attacks.

His trial is scheduled for Wednesday, nearly one year to the day after the incidents.

In Palmer, Rogers is accused of killing his father, Christopher Erin Rogers Sr. and grievously wounding his father’s fiance, Elann Moren, on Dec. 2, as they slept in the senior Rogers’ home.

Rogers faces 12 charges including the most serious ones.

Prosecutors say that after killing his father, Rogers drove to Anchorage and shot three people, killing 27-year-old Jason Wenger.

In Anchorage, Rogers faces 12 charges separate from the allegations in Palmer. That trial was set for January.

According to an affidavit, the spree began in Palmer, where police say Rogers killed his father and attacked Moren with a machete.

He fled 40 miles south to Anchorage and went in search of a different vehicle, authorities said.

It was there, Rogers allegedly shot Wenger while he was sitting in an idling Ford Bronco.

Rogers decided not to take Wenger’s vehicle because the shots made a lot of noise and he “did not want to take on the whole neighborhood,” the affidavit said.

Rogers then bought a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of beer, and spent some time sleeping in the woods near downtown Anchorage, the affidavit said. At that point, he told officers, he was no longer worried about being caught and “just wanted to kill a few more people along the way,” it said.

Rogers has a long history of trouble with the law. That includes charges of harassment, driving under the influence, assault and arson, charging documents stated.