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White Plains Police Ask Public's Help In Probe Of College Athlete's Death

As family and friends of Robby Schartner grieve his death on Sunday, Oct. 9 after the Manhattanville College lacrosse player was struck and killed by a car, the Detective Division of the White Plains Police Department is working to piece together the hours before the horrible accident.

Robby Schartner, a students at Manhattanville College, was killed by a drunk driver on Sunday, Oct. 8. Police are asking for information regarding the case.

Robby Schartner, a students at Manhattanville College, was killed by a drunk driver on Sunday, Oct. 8. Police are asking for information regarding the case.

Photo Credit: Manhattanville College
Emma Fox was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated in Robby Schartner's death.

Emma Fox was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated in Robby Schartner's death.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Family and friends mourned the loss of Robby Schartner - a Manhattanville College lacrosse player who was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver Oct. 12 at a funeral mass at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye.

Family and friends mourned the loss of Robby Schartner - a Manhattanville College lacrosse player who was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver Oct. 12 at a funeral mass at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman

Schartner, a junior at Manhattanville, was a 21-year-old graduate of Brookfield High School (Conn.) who had also lived in Fishkill and Garrison.

Detectives are asking for the public's assistance in providing information that could help flush out what happened before Emma Fox, of Rye, who was driving drunk had a blood-alcohol content more than double the legal limit, hit Schartner.

Detective Lt. Eric Fischer, who oversees the department's detective division, said any piece of information could be valuable.

"We are continuing the investigation and anyone who has information in relation to the night's events are encouraged to call," Fischer told Daily Voice.

What is known so far is that, a little before 5 a.m. Fox, a 2010 graduate of Rye High School, said she thought she hit "something," pulled over to the side of the road on Westchester Avenue and called police.

When police arrived, they said they immediately determined that Fox was drunk and began looking for any victims. It didn't take them long to find Schartner's body.

Before the accident, both were leaving downtown White Plains. Fox, 24, was driving a 2012 Nissan Sentra. Police are not sure if she was heading for her apartment in Rye located above a popular bar, Kelly's Sea Level.

Police said Schartner was walking along Westchester Avenue -- returning to the Manhattanville campus in Purchase. This would be about a three mile walk along a dark stretch of road.

Schartner, a junior, was entering his third season on the Manhattanville men's lacrosse team.

"In his three years as a men's lacrosse player, Robert earned his spot on the team the hard way,” college President Michael Geisler said in an email to students, faculty and staff. “It was not easy for him, but the sacrifices he made inspired the team and epitomized what it means to be a scholar-athlete at Manhattanville."

The son of Pete Schartner and Donna Hall, Schartner was the youngest member of the family that include his half-brother Anthony Dugan and sisters, Nicole Byfunglin and Alexis Kovacs.

Following his death, a GoFundMe page was started to help the family with funeral expenses. To date, more than $17,748 has been raised. 

"We are beyond shattered at the news of our youngest brother's life being taken by a drunk driver last night," Schartner's brother and sisters said on the page.

"He was studying marketing at Manhattanville College in N.Y., a dedicated college lacrosse player and a brother, a son, a grandchild, an uncle and a friend to all who knew him. This loss is pure devastation to our family and his friends as we prepare to say our unexpected final goodbyes. We appreciate all of the love, support and outreach."

Since his funeral, family and friends have also begun a social media campaign, using #TeamThree and #RS3. Dozens of friends and supporters hold three fingers aloft, to support putting an end to drunk driving and to remember Schartner.

Fox, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. She’s in the Westchester County Jail on $100,000 bail.

To contact Fischer directly with any information about this case, call 914-422-6223 or the Detective Division at 914-422-6200. All calls will be kept confidential.

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