Former Texas Sheriff's Deputy Convicted of Murdering Special-Needs Girlfriend and Faking Suicide
Dec 07, 2023, 02:00 AM
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A jury in Denton County on Tuesday found 39-year-old Jay A. Rotter, a former deputy with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, guilty of murdering his special-needs girlfriend, Leslie Hartman. The 46-year-old woman, a paraplegic and popular artist in the area, was shot in the temple with Rotter's service weapon in August 2020. Rotter then attempted to stage her death as a suicide.
The Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the jury's decision, revealing that Rotter was convicted of one count of murder. The same jury sentenced him to 30 years in a state correctional facility.
Rotter had initially called 911, reporting that Hartman had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside her home on Robinwood Lane. However, the evidence presented during the trial painted a different picture. First responders found Hartman dead, with Rotter covered in blood from the waist down.
According to the Denton Police Department, Rotter claimed that his girlfriend unexpectedly shot herself while he was watching a movie at his desk in a bedroom. He was subsequently arrested on a $1 million bond. Hartman, confined to a wheelchair due to injuries from a past car crash, had been living with Rotter for about six months. The investigation revealed damning evidence from Rotter's cellphone, particularly messages on the Discord app around the time of Hartman's death. In a message that was never sent but later recovered from drafts, Rotter allegedly wrote, "I TOLD HER. LISTEN. ONE SHOT ONLY. THEY CALL IT IN AFTER AND THEY CAN." Another message mentioned shooting a "9 millie in this f—— hippy."
Prosecutors argued that Rotter's statements to officers contradicted the evidence at the scene, pointing to the lack of gunshot residue or blood splatter on Hartman's hands, covered by a blanket. Rotter, on the other hand, had both gunshot residue and blood on his hands, suggesting an attempt to wash them.
During the trial, Rotter's defense claimed the messages were about shooting a milk bottle in the backyard and argued there was no history of domestic violence between the couple. However, the jury deliberated for only three hours before convicting Rotter, rejecting the defense's arguments.
Rotter, who joined the sheriff's office in 2005 and was fired in 2020 following the shooting, now faces a lengthy prison sentence. Sheriff Bill Waybourn expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating, "We believe in the criminal justice process, and the truth will prevail."
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The Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the jury's decision, revealing that Rotter was convicted of one count of murder. The same jury sentenced him to 30 years in a state correctional facility.
Rotter had initially called 911, reporting that Hartman had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside her home on Robinwood Lane. However, the evidence presented during the trial painted a different picture. First responders found Hartman dead, with Rotter covered in blood from the waist down.
According to the Denton Police Department, Rotter claimed that his girlfriend unexpectedly shot herself while he was watching a movie at his desk in a bedroom. He was subsequently arrested on a $1 million bond. Hartman, confined to a wheelchair due to injuries from a past car crash, had been living with Rotter for about six months. The investigation revealed damning evidence from Rotter's cellphone, particularly messages on the Discord app around the time of Hartman's death. In a message that was never sent but later recovered from drafts, Rotter allegedly wrote, "I TOLD HER. LISTEN. ONE SHOT ONLY. THEY CALL IT IN AFTER AND THEY CAN." Another message mentioned shooting a "9 millie in this f—— hippy."
Prosecutors argued that Rotter's statements to officers contradicted the evidence at the scene, pointing to the lack of gunshot residue or blood splatter on Hartman's hands, covered by a blanket. Rotter, on the other hand, had both gunshot residue and blood on his hands, suggesting an attempt to wash them.
During the trial, Rotter's defense claimed the messages were about shooting a milk bottle in the backyard and argued there was no history of domestic violence between the couple. However, the jury deliberated for only three hours before convicting Rotter, rejecting the defense's arguments.
Rotter, who joined the sheriff's office in 2005 and was fired in 2020 following the shooting, now faces a lengthy prison sentence. Sheriff Bill Waybourn expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating, "We believe in the criminal justice process, and the truth will prevail."
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com