MIDDLETOWN, NY — Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced the arraignment of Kenol Baptiste, 30, from Middletown, on multiple murder charges. The court session on Wednesday led to Baptiste being held without bail at Orange County Jail, with a follow-up conference scheduled for May 31.
Baptiste faces two counts each of first and second-degree murder, following an incident on April 1 where he allegedly stabbed two men during a physical altercation in Middletown. After the attack, one victim managed to leave the scene before collapsing outside; Baptiste reportedly continued his assault on this individual and then fled after concealing the weapon. City police apprehended him shortly after in a nearby wooded area. Both victims succumbed to their injuries.
DA Hoovler expressed his disturbance over the violence and praised local police for their swift action. He affirmed his office’s commitment to seeking justice for the victims and their families and to combating violent crime in the community.