Bio

Tony Roach was born on November 9, 1976, in Greenville County, South Carolina. He grew up in a troubled environment and faced many challenges during his childhood. His early years were marked by difficulties that included a troubled family life and early encounters with the law.

As a juvenile, Roach was involved in a series of thefts and burglaries. Between December 1989 and February 1990, he was committed to juvenile facilities five times for these offenses. When he was about 17, he committed more serious crimes, including armed robbery. In 1993, Roach stole a car and was involved in two armed robberies. After one robbery, he threatened his girlfriend with a gun when she did not want to accompany him on the run.

His criminal actions led to a sentence of six years in prison. He served about five years and was released on parole in February 1998. Shortly after his release, Roach continued his pattern of crime. He stole cash, a video camera, and a minivan from his boss before fleeing to Jacksonville, Florida. There, he found work but soon stole money from a motel.

Eventually, in search of a new start, Roach traveled to Amarillo, Texas. However, his criminal behavior did not stop. Reports indicate that in the weeks before an infamous crime, he committed several thefts, shoplifted from stores, and even attacked an elderly man.

Throughout his early life, Roach exhibited a consistent pattern of criminal behavior that culminated in his eventual actions in Texas, where he became involved in a violent crime that would change his life permanently. He had previously shown difficulty adapting to life outside of incarceration and continued to make choices that led to further trouble with the law.

Murder Story

On June 8, 1998, Tony Roach committed a violent crime in Amarillo, Texas. He broke into the apartment of Ronnie Dawn Hewitt through a window. Once inside, he hid in the bathroom while Hewitt went about her daily activities. After some time, she walked past the bathroom door. Roach then emerged, covered her mouth, and assured her that he would not harm her.

Hewitt pleaded for her safety, mentioning that she had a husband and daughter. However, Roach forced her into the living room where a struggle began. He strangled her using a belt and his arms until she was unconscious and ultimately dead. After killing her, Roach raped her body before stealing items from her apartment.

He took several rings, a knife, beer, and cash. After the robbery, Roach set Hewitt’s apartment on fire using aerosol hairspray and a cigarette lighter. When firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze, they discovered her charred body on the living room floor.

About ten days later, law enforcement in Guymon, Oklahoma, arrested Roach for a separate theft. While in custody, he confessed to the murder of Ronnie Dawn Hewitt, providing details about the crime. His confession led to a rapid investigation that connected him to the burglary and murder.

Roach was charged with capital murder. The trial began, and the prosecution presented evidence including his confession, witness testimonies, and DNA evidence. Ultimately, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

After unsuccessful appeals, Tony Roach was executed by lethal injection in Texas on September 5, 2007. His final statement included apologies to the victim's family, expressing remorse for his actions.