Sentenced: Arrest Made In Mysterious Killing Of 14YO Boy In Florida

[Sugar Cookie]

Authorities in Palm Beach County confirmed Wednesday night that an arrest had been made in the killing of a 14-year-old boy.

Ryan Rogers, a freshman at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, was found dead on Nov. 16 just a few minutes away from his home.

He had last been seen riding his bicycle away from his home the night before.

Palm Beach Gardens police announced late Wednesday evening that the arrest had been made in Miami, and the suspect was in their custody.

According to authorities, Rogers’ death was not a traffic accident, but a deliberate act.

Police chief: Homeless drifter from Miami with extensive record killed 14-year-old boy

Ryan Rogers, a freshman at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, was found dead on Nov. 16 just a few minutes away from his home. Police have arrested a man from Miami for the boy's murder.

www.local10.com

No additional information was released about the arrest, but police are scheduled to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss the latest development in the case.

Arrest made in mysterious killing of 14-year-old boy in Florida

Florida police on Wednesday made an arrest in the killing of a 14-year-old boy who was found dead after going for a bike ride last month, a report said.

nypost.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Police in Florida have arrested a man they described as a “homeless drifter” in the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy whose body was found near an interstate overpass.

Semmie Lee Williams, 39, was arrested in Miami and charged with first degree murder in the death of Ryan Rogers.

“He appears to be a homeless drifter spending most of his time in the streets of Miami,” Palm Beach Gardens Chief of Police Clinton Shannon said of Williams at a press conference Thursday.

Ryan, a high school freshman, went missing on Nov. 15, having been last seen leaving his home in Palm Beach Gardens to go for a bike ride, local ABC affiliate WPBF reported. Residents had gathered to search for him, the Palm Beach Post reported.

His body was found the next day near Interstate 95.

Shannon said Williams stabbed Rogers to death in what appears to have been a random encounter.

“The incident itself appears to be a completely random act,” Shannon said. “We do not have a motive in this case and I would best describe it as an innocent child victim having a chance encounter with a very violent criminal.”

Williams has a criminal record dating back to 2004, Shannon said. Within the past 10 years, Williams had been arrested in Georgia, California, and Florida on charges including battery against a person older than 60 and aggravated assault with strangulation. In 2005, a protective order was issued against him for domestic violence, and in 2004 he was charged with theft and for carrying a concealed electric weapon.

A Suspect in the 'Completely Random' Stabbing Murder of 14-Year-Old Ryan Rogers Is Under Arrest

Police in Florida have arrested a man they described as a "homeless drifter" in the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy whose body was found in November near an interstate overpass.

lawandcrime.com

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Palm Beach Gardens police charged Williams with first-degree murder with a weapon. His first appearance in court was Thursday morning, where he was told he will be held without bond.

Officials said there is no motive at this time.

Rogers was found dead on Nov. 16 just south of the I-95 overpass on Central Boulevard with his bike nearby. He was found two dozen feet from the sidewalk in a wooded area out of plain sight. He had gone missing one day earlier after his mother said he had left his home on his bike and not returned, according to police.

The autopsy results showed Rogers was stabbed multiple times in the head and face, police said. His cause of death was ruled a homicide.

Police said headphones were found at the crime scene that did not belong to Rogers. A DNA sample produced a positive match belonging to Williams.

When Williams was located in Miami, a bloodstained bandana was found in his backpack, investigators said. Further analysis showed the two contributors to the bloodstains were Rogers and Williams.

“He has no ties that we can determine to Palm Beach Gardens or Palm Beach County — none whatsoever. It’s a mystery to us why this man was in our community but we have evidence that places him on the scene and makes him responsible for the murder of this child," Chief Clint Shannon said.

Redirect Notice

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Semmie Lee Williams is headed to state prison for 35 years for the 2021 stabbing death of 14-year-old Ryan Rogers of Palm Beach Gardens.

Circuit Judge Cymonie Rowe sentenced Williams, 43, at the end of a hour-long hearing at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. Rowe said she had to consider both aggravating and mitigating factors in reaching her decision. She noted Williams' history of violent acts as well as his history of mental illness.

As he was being led out the courtroom, Williams screamed that he needed to be moved into the general prison population and stated that he was being assaulted in the county jail, repeating a claim he made during his testimony at the sentencing hearing.

Williams' outburst drew an angry dismissal from Rogers' father, Brian.

"You'll be dead within a year," the elder Rogers said, cursing at Williams. Brian Rogers declined to comment as he exited the courtroom following the judge's ruling.

Semmie Lee Williams sentenced for 2021 murder of Ryan Rogers, 14

Semmie Lee Williams was sentenced to 35 years in state prison for the 2021 stabbing death of 14-year-old Ryan Rogers.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Rebooto]

I hope the elder Rogers is right. It's so sad, a boy robbed of a whole life only because a bum had a bad day and refused to take medication for his empty twisted head. This aggressive look in the picture says it all. And what is that on his head? Looks like pus filled pimples.