Twin lives of crime reflect a violent history FROM PAGE 1A While Robert was living the life of a street hustler in Rochester, operating a male escort service and working as a prostitute, Stephen was spending almost all of his adult life behind bars. In 1971, at age 16, Stephen stabbed : a 48-year-old Elmira Heights storeowner to death. He served nearly eight years, then was released, only to be convicted within a year on charges of robbery and kidnapping. He was imprisoned again until a 1999 release, but within months was reincarcerated on a parole violation. Could be free in April Stephen could be freed in April. He has had a largely spotless disciplinary record in recent years at Attica, records show, and he maintains he can live successfully outside the walls. If released, he plans to return to Elmira where he and his brother grew up, and where they still have family. In November, the Democrat and Chronicle wrote to Robert Spahalski in jail, posing questions about his confession. A man who said he was Spahalski telephoned a Democrat and Chronicle reporter afterward and said he would answer questions but only if $100 were placed into his jail account. The newspaper does not pay for interviews. Spahalski shared not only features but hobbies and pastimes. Both could be rambunctious partygoers yet were disciplined enough to be excellent gymnasts, Stephen said. They were only 8 or 9 when they first began gymnastic training, Stephen said. 'I was doing good' "I would have got a (college) scholarship for it," he said. "I was in the state meets and all that stuff. If it wasn't for the murder, I'd be all set for life. I was doing good. I had a nice girlfriend." The "murder" is his slaying of the storeowner, Ronald Ripley. State Police initially suspected Robert of the killing, recalled Ransom P. Reynolds Jr., an Elmira lawyer who prosecuted the Ripley case as a young assistant district attorney. "The focus was on Robert Spahalski, not Stephen Spahalski. They thought that Robert Spahalski was the one that did it," Reynolds said. "And as they were focusing in on Robert, Stephen confessed to it. The police always suspected that Robert may have been there at the time, but they could never prove it." Surprise confession Stephen Spahalski's confession "came as a surprise" to investigators, Reynolds said. The investigators learned that Ripley had been engaging in Stephen Spahalski says of his suspect in at least two killings, again." Stephen on the other hand Prison officials, however, couldn't figure out which one. "They never did and we never told them either," Stephen said. Robert was the culprit, Stephen said. In the auto shop, Robert built a hidden compartment underneath an old Army truck that was to be sent to a government agency. Robert and another prisoner then tucked themselves into the compartment. News accounts show that prison officials were tipped off to the planned escape, and nabbed one inmate running from the truck before it left prison grounds. They were unable to apprehend What's next Prosecutors said they would present allegations to a grand jury this week that Robert B. Spahalski committed two murders. It won't be publicly known until Thursday, Dec. 22, when the grand jury rises, whether Spahalski was indicted and for what crimes, said First Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Hyland. Spahalski is accused of the Nov. 4 killing of Vivian Irizarry, 54, and the October 1991 bludgeoning death of Charles Grande, 40, who was slain in his Webster home. Hyland wouldn't say whether prosecutors would present evidence to the grand jury of possible involvement by Spahalski in other slayings. Spahalski told police he killed four people, police said, but authorities so far have charged him with only two murders. MAX SCHULTE staff photographer identical twin brother, Robert, a "He'll never see the streets hopes to go free in April. officials say. He could be incarcerated until mid-2007 if he has to take the course, Stephen said. Stephen said he'll continue to follow the criminal case against his brother. And he'll be a supportive sibling, though he has not heard from Robert since his November arrest. "Eventually, after he's pretty well done in the courts, I'll get in touch with him." Stephen has followed accounts of his brother's arrest through the news. Robert went into a Rochester police station on Nov. 8, and, police say, confessed to the slaying of Vivian Irizarry. He led them to her body in the basement of a city house where he and a girlfriend had an apartment. Authorities said Robert also confessed to the 1991 Webster slaying of Charles Grande and to two other killings; police have not identified those two victims. Stephen said he's surprised that his brother would admit to FREE CHEESEBURGER Buy One Cheeseburger... Get One FREE! 3 TOME WAHL'S/ Not valid w/any other offers or discounts. L Expires 12/29/05. murders. "It might have weighed on him. I don't know. I'm not a psychiatrist. "Maybe he's sorry for killing them," he said. "He wanted it off his chest. It's off his chest." O GCRAIG@DemocratandChronicle.com Includes reporting by staff writer Steve Orr. $2 OFF HADDOCK DINNER Or... $1 OFF HADDOCK MINI DINNER L or discounts. Expires 12/29/05. Not valid w/any other offers 0000060610