Mom, son charged with murder

A parole absconder and his mother killed a Rochester man as they robbed him, Rochester police allege.

Rochester Police arrested James McCracken, 28, and Jacqueline Staples, 48, Tuesday and charged them with second-degree murder in the Sept. 10 killing of Robert Pinckney, 66.

McCracken was being sought as a parole absconder when Pinckney was killed, according to First Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford. After serving prison time for a burglary conviction, McCracken was released to parole in March, records show.

The two were arraigned in Rochester City Court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.

Videos captured images of the two "leaving the scene of the murder and shortly thereafter with property taken from the victim," Rochester Police Investigator David Simpson wrote in a criminal complaint.

The two killed Pinckney shortly before midnight "by causing him multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries," according to the criminal complaint.

Parole officials were actively seeking McCracken at the time of the killing, Wolford said.

GCRAIG@DemocratandChronicle.com