Bio

Roger Mark Scott was born on June 4, 1948. He grew up in a typical environment of American suburbia during the mid-20th century. His early life was not marked by significant public attention. Information about his childhood and teenage years is limited, but like many of his peers, he faced the everyday challenges of growing up, such as school and family life.

As he reached adulthood, Scott's life took various turns. He became involved in various activities and formed connections with different people. At some point, he crossed paths with James Lynn Styers, and the two became acquaintances. It is reported that Scott was interested in financial opportunities, which would later become a crucial aspect of his story.

In the late 1980s, Scott was living in Maricopa County, Arizona. He had a particular interest in life insurance policies. This interest would lead him into a troubling association with a crime that would change everything about his life. His actions on December 2, 1989, would soon draw the attention of law enforcement and the public.

Murder Story

On December 2, 1989, James Lynn Styers reported that his roommate's son, Christopher Milke, who was four years old, had gone missing during a trip to Metrocenter mall in Maricopa County, Arizona. Roger Mark Scott was with Styers when he filed the missing child report. The following day, December 3, 1989, Scott confessed during a police interview. He stated that he had gone with Styers to a desert area near 99th Avenue and Jomax Road, where Styers shot and killed Christopher Milke.

Scott revealed that Styers had promised him $250 to help file a social security claim. Styers believed that he could access Christopher's $5,000 life insurance policy after the child's death. After Scott's confession, he guided the police to the location where they discovered Christopher's body. In another police interview, Debra Jean Milke, Christopher’s mother, admitted to conspiring with Styers to murder her son. She stated that it would be better for Christopher to die than to grow up like his father.

Scott was arrested on December 3, 1989, and faced trial later. The trial, presided over by Judge David R. Cole, started on January 15, 1991. The jury reached a verdict on February 7, 1991, and he was sentenced to death on April 22, 1991. The court noted several aggravating factors, including the motive of financial gain and the victim's young age. Mitigating factors included Scott's cooperation in the investigation and his psychological history.