Convicted murderer charged with new attempted killing

A Minneapolis man still on parole for a 1990 murder was charged with attempted second-degree murder in the repeated stabbing of his girlfriend, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday.

Roylee Hartfield, 60, was charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault. He is expected to make his first court appearance Wednesday. Prosecutors are asking for $1 million bail.

Police were not called until Sunday evening but the victim told the officers that on Saturday evening, Hartfield jumped on her on the bed in her north Minneapolis apartment and punched her. He then stabbed her numerous times in the neck and left her bleeding in the bed, according to the criminal complaint.

Hartfield stayed in the apartment throughout the night and the next day told her he would take her to the hospital. He took the victim’s keys to “warm up” her vehicle, but never returned to the apartment. Eventually, she called someone she knew, who called police, the complaint states.

When officers arrived about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the woman was holding a towel to the right side of her neck. Officers could see stab wounds to the victim’s face and neck. She was disheveled, weak and spoke softly. When she would take the towel from the wound, it bled, according to the complaint. Police collected the blood-soaked bedding, clothing and kitchen knife from the apartment after the woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Police arrested Hartfield early Monday morning. Hartfield admitted he stabbed her multiple times and intended to kill her. He checked on her throughout the night, expecting her to be dead each time, the complaint states. Hartfield was convicted of second-degree murder in June 1990.

Hartfield Criminal Complaint (PDF)