READING — A 43-year-old Reading man was charged with three counts of aggravated murder Tuesday in the deaths of his former sister-in-law and his two next-door neighbors.

        “It's basically a triple homicide,” Police Chief Greg Hilling said at a press conference late Tuesday.

Carnevale

        Robert Cordell of the 2100 block of Bolser Drive is charged in the deaths of 40-year-old Kathleen Cordell, his former sister-in-law with whom he resided, and their neighbors, Frank Carnevale, 72, and Rita Bushman, 68.

        Mr. Carnevale, a former Reading mayor and Ms. Bushman, his ex-wife, were found dead with gunshot wounds to the head early Tuesday morning after firefighters responded to a call about smoke coming from their basement.

        Police say they believe the killer set a fire in the home in an attempt to cover up the slayings.

        Ms. Cordell's body was discovered Tuesday afternoon after Mr. Cordell told them about it during routine questioning by investigators, Chief Hilling said.

        The cause of Ms. Cordell's death has not been determined, but Chief Hilling said she “is not believed to be a shooting victim.” He said investigators have not determined a motive.

        Relatives of Mr. Carnevale told police Mr. Cordell may have been angry because Mr. Carnevale had taken back a truck he had allowed Mr. Cordell to use, the police chief said.

        Investigators believe the killings occurred after 9:30 p.m. Monday. Ms. Cordell was killed before Mr., Carnevale and Ms. Bushman, Chief Hilling said.

        The homicides are the first in Reading since 1984, Chief Hilling said.

        A neighbor, Mark Flege, 34, said Mr. Cordell had moved in with Ms. Cordell with the past year. Ms. Cordell's husband, who was Mr. Cordell's brother, died in the same house about two years ago from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the chief said.

        “This is something you wouldn't expect in Reading,” Mr. Flege said.

        Mr. Flege said Mr. Cordell worked in construction for one of Mr. Carnevale's sons and had told him that he was a former member of the Special Forces in the U.S. military.

Police tape blocks off two houses in Reading on Tuesday where three homicides occurred, including that of a former mayor, whose house is on the right. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Carnevale and Ms. Bushman were found in their home shortly before 7 a.m., according to Reading Fire Chief Kevin Kaiser.

        Police determined there had been no forced entry into the Carnevale home, located on a quiet residential street.

        A neighbor smelled smoke at 6:14 a.m., the fire chief said.

        Chief Kaiser said firefighters found Ms. Bushman first and discovered she had been shot several times in the head. They went back inside and found Mr. Carnevale's body in the same condition, according to authorities.

        The smoke came from a fire started in a basement utility closet, officials said.

        “I can't believe this,” said Mike Carnevale, the former mayor's younger brother, who was among the first called to the scene.

        The former mayor and his ex-wife were divorced, but began living together again three or four years ago, said Mike Carnevale of Delhi Township.

        As investigators went through the former mayor's house Tuesday looking for clues, family members gathered on the sidewalk outside, crying and hugging one another.

        The home, which sustained smoke damage, was built in 1978 and is valued at $104,700.

        The bodies were taken to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office to determine the time of death.

        A neighbor told Reading police he had last seen the couple about 9 p.m. Monday.

        Mr. Carnevale, a former public safety director in Reading, served one term as mayor after an upset win over longtime Mayor Anthony Gertz in 1991.

        He resigned in December 1994 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was successfully treated.

        The next year, he tried a political comeback by running for a seat on Reading City Council, but came 36 votes short of winning one of three at-large spots in a six-candidate field.

        Mr. Carnevale's stint as mayor lasted less than three years, but he was responsible for upgrading city parks and equipment in the police and fire departments. He opened a mayor's office on Benson Street at his own expense, where constituents could come and talk with the mayor.

        As mayor, he performed more than 50 marriages at City Hall and would invariably donate the fees he collected to various charities.
       

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