Texas jury seals fate of arlington killer

A Tarrant County jury delivered a death sentence this week to Reid Rothenberg, 37, for the 2022 double homicide in Arlington, effectively condemning him to life without parole. The verdict brings a grim closure to a case that shocked the North Texas community.

Rothenberg found guilty of capital murder in brutal 2022 attack

The shooting occurred on April 10, 2022, at a residence on Ivy Hill Drive. Prosecutors detailed how Rothenberg fatally shot 84-year-old George Nitsche, who was relaxing in his home, and then pursued two other individuals into the yard, continuing to fire repeatedly. Assistant District Attorney Matt Rivers told the jury that Nitsche “never saw it coming.”

The attack also left Elizabeth Hearn, Nitsche's 67-year-old ex-wife and the mother of the other victim, Matthew Stuart, 41, wounded. Hearn survived after being shot.

“This is not just a killing,” stated Assistant District Attorney Tad Schmidt during the trial. “This is a brutal homicide by someone who came to kill that night.”

Rothenberg was apprehended on June 17, 2022, and initially charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and burglary of a habitation. The jury’s decision to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole followed the conviction.

The case highlights the devastating reality of domestic violence and the swift justice system in Tarrant County. The details emerging from the trial paint a picture of calculated violence, leaving little room for ambiguity about the defendant’s intent.

The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office confirmed the automatic sentencing. Rothenberg is now awaiting confinement.