Background: A section of Ivy Hill Drive in Arlington, Texas (Google Maps). Inset left: Matthew Stuart (Laurel Land – Rose Hill Memorial Park and Funeral Home). Inset middle: Reid Rothenberg (Lon Evans Corrections Center). Inset right: George Nitsche (Laurel Land – Rose Hill Memorial Park and Funeral Home).
In a chilling turn of events, a Texas man has been sentenced for a brutal crime in which he forcefully entered a residence, fatally shooting two individuals. The perpetrator, 37-year-old Reid Rothenberg, was convicted of capital murder by a Tarrant County jury for the deaths of 41-year-old Matthew Stuart and 84-year-old George Nitsche, as disclosed by the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. As a result of the conviction, Rothenberg faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The harrowing incident occurred on the evening of April 10, 2022, within a home located on Ivy Hill Drive in Arlington, Texas. Inside were Stuart, his mother—who was 67 at the time—and Nitsche, who was her former spouse.
According to the DA’s office, Rothenberg violently breached the front door of the home. Without warning, he fired his weapon, instantly killing Nitsche, who was resting on a couch in the back of the house. “He never saw it coming,” remarked Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Matt Rivers during the trial, describing the tragic final moments of Nitsche’s life.
Following the initial attack, Rothenberg pursued Stuart and his mother into the yard, continuing to discharge his firearm in their direction. The relentless violence left an indelible mark on the victims’ family, as expressed in a statement released by the district attorney’s office.
“He never saw it coming,” Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Matt Rivers told the jury during the trial. “That’s his final resting place.”
Rothenberg proceeded to “chase” Stuart and his mother into the home’s front yard, “firing repeatedly.”
Officers with the Arlington Police Department responded to the home just after midnight on April 11, 2022, and found the three victims. Nitsche was pronounced dead at the scene, while Stuart and his mother were rushed to an area hospital. Stuart was pronounced dead at the medical facility, but his mother survived.
“All of the victims were members of the same family,” the police department said at the time.
About two months later, police announced they had arrested Rothenberg in connection with the shooting. The law enforcement agency said that “following a thorough investigation and review of the evidence, detectives were able to connect Mr. Rothenberg to the crime and believe he knew at least one of the victims.”
It is unclear, however, what Rothenberg’s suspected motive was.
Tad Schmidt, another Tarrant County assistant district attorney, stated that “this is not just a killing,” adding, “this is a brutal homicide by someone who came to kill that night.”
