Robert Hartle arraigned on more murder charges
By: WROC-TV
Updated: July 31, 2007
A Rochester man accused of killing three people is pleading not guilty. 45-year-old Robert Hartle was already charged with killing his girlfriend and was re-arrested for two more murders. He's accused of beating and stabbing to death Vincent Reynolds and Hazel Stewart in their Jerold Street home then setting the house on fire in May of 2006. Prosecutors say Hartle also killed his girlfriend, Samantha Mottler, in February of this year. They are seeking to have one trial for all three murders. ADA Ken Hyland says "In some ways its simpler because there are allegations that Mr. Hartle made statements both when he was questioned in respect to the Mottler case and the Hazel Stewart and Vincent Reynolds case." Hartle's attorney Andre Vitale says, "I don't think that there is any basis to try these two cases together, they are completely separate crimes there is nothing about them that would give the basis to allow them to be tried together." Family members of the victims were in court this morning, they declined comment.
