Man Convicted of $5 Murder

HILLSBORO, Ill. (AP) â€” A man has been convicted of murder for stealing $5 from a woman, then killing her and burning down her house. <br><br>Robin Hickman, 20, could face life in prison for the slaying

Friday, December 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HILLSBORO, Ill. (AP) â€” A man has been convicted of murder for stealing $5 from a woman, then killing her and burning down her house.

Robin Hickman, 20, could face life in prison for the slaying of Wanda Guckian, 48.

Prosecutors say Guckian came home on Aug. 6, 1999, and found Hickman and an accomplice burglarizing the place. Hickman took $5 from her as she pleaded for her life. He then slashed her throat, shot her in the head and ignited the blaze, prosecutors said.

The fire covered the crime so well that authorities didn't realize Guckian had been murdered until two months later, when 17-year-old accomplice Casey Buske was being questioned about some stolen compact discs, investigators said.

Buske faces a murder trial.