Winchester, VA Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole For Murder of Ex-wife
For Immediate Release
April 21, 2023
FREDERICK, MD This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Julie Stevenson Solt sentenced Lemuel Lee Roberts, age 35, of Winchester, VA to life without the possibility of parole, which was what the State had sought. Roberts was found guilty of 1st degree murder by a Frederick jury February 16, 2023.
Following the sentencing, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “Today we have justice for Kaitlin, her family, and her many friends and supporters. Life without Parole was undoubtedly the right sentence for this heinous murderer. One who showed zero remorse and took substantial steps to cover up his killing.”
Shortly after 2:00 am on January 11, 2020, a 911 caller reported finding a body in the roadway at English Muffin Court and English Muffin Way in Frederick, MD, deceased. The victim was identified as Kaitlin Nichole Roberts of Winchester, VA.
Investigators determined that Lemuel Roberts traveled to Frederick, Maryland with his ex-wife and mother of his children, Kaitlin Roberts, and stabbed her 32 times and ran over her body while driving a Buick Enclave. At trial, prosecutors presented video footage from a nearby business showing the defendant’s car approach the area of English Muffin Way and English Muffin Court around 11:49 pm on January 10, 2020. The victim exited the vehicle and was subsequently run over by the defendant.
Afterwards, Roberts went back to Winchester where he was shown on surveillance camera footage at a Sheetz Gas Station driving the Buick Enclave through a car wash. The defendant proceeded to dispose of evidence including the victim’s work nameplate and purse at a Sunoco gas station dumpster in Winchester. Roberts then returned to his home on Oakmont Circle in Winchester.
Through cellular phone tracking analysis by FBI Special Agent Michael Fowler, investigators determined Roberts then returned to the area of the victim’s body in Frederick around 2:00 am. SA Fowler also presented tracking data through cellular phone records and trackers the defendant had on vehicles that confirmed his movements in the late hours of January 10th into the early morning of January 11, 2020.
The defendant then went back to Winchester where he set the Buick Enclave on fire at Woods Mill Rd. and Red Bud Rd. Former Frederick County, VA Fire Marshall’s office investigator Kenneth Scott testified that it was the result of an intentional “incendiary” fire originating in the front passenger area of the vehicle.
The State was represented by Deputy State’s Attorney Kirsten Brown and Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Clinton.
The State’s Attorney’s Office would like to recognize the hard work of investigators with the Frederick County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County, VA Fire Marshall’s Office, Frederick County, MD Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Baltimore, and the Montgomery County, MD Police Department.
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