jason
02-01-2007, 04:00 PM
Baseball bat murder -- Mother killed, adopted teen-aged son arrested
By SARA VANDEN BERGE News Editor
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/5678/phototl7.jpg
A mother is dead and her 17-year-old son is in custody, accused of beating her to death with an aluminum baseball bat Tuesday night inside the family’s Stephenville residence.
Jana Roberson, 50, was found dead in her home by authorities who responded to a frantic 911 call they received at 10:53 p.m. The call was apparently made by relatives of murder suspect Cody Roberson’s 15-year-old girlfriend, who was with him at the time of the murder.
Authorities confirmed late Wednesday that they located what they believe to be the murder weapon - the baseball bat - about eight miles north of Stephenville, on U.S. Highway 281.
The investigation into what actually transpired before, during, and after the crime remains ongoing.
What’s known is that Jana Roberson received a phone call from her son, Cody, Tuesday evening asking for a ride for he and his girlfriend from an undisclosed location.
But when the three arrived back at the family’s home, something went terribly wrong.
“We don’t know yet what sparked the incident,” Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said. “But we hope to find out.”
Bryant said when officers with the Stephenville Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of the deceased in a section of the house described as an “enclosed porch.” She had been beaten to death.
The suspect and his girlfriend had apparently left the home in the victim’s vehicle and headed to Mineral Wells to stay with a friend. When that friend could not be located, the couple came back to Stephenville, where Roberson dropped off his girlfriend and fled once again.
He was apprehended in Early shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday by an Early police officer and a Brown County sheriff’s deputy after a foot-chase.
He was arrested and transported to the Brown County Jail.
The suspect has a history of family violence, and was arrested in December for allegedly assaulting his mother in a separate incident. He was then released on probation, but a warrant for his arrest was recently reissued after he violated probation. The mother did not have a protective order against her son, Bryant said.
“She loved him so much that she did not want to sign a protective order that would keep him away,” Bryant said.
Authorities said the suspect was adopted by Jim and Jana Roberson when he was an infant, and lived in Stephenville for the majority of his life. According to Stephenville Independent School District officials, Roberson attended Stephenville High School for four months — from August through December of 2004 -- then transferred to Erath Excels! Academy.
“Erath Excels wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Jana Roberson,” said Debra Miller, director of Excels! Academy.
“For the short period of time Cody was enrolled in EEA, school personnel were in daily contact with his mother concerning academic issues,” Miller said. “We grieve the loss of a wonderful, caring parent and our prayers are with her family, including the son she loved. Administrators and counselors met with students and staff for a crisis debriefing. Counselors will be available for students, parents, and staff as needed.”
Meanwhile, Bryant said Cody Roberson is expected to be transferred to Erath County “very soon” to face murder charges.
Sara Vanden Berge covers courts, law enforcement, and business and political issues for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com. Her work number is 968-2379, ext. 240.
Baseball bat murder -- Jana Roberson remembered as ‘talented,’ caring individual
By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST
Jana Roberson was known as a talented individual who loved computers and crafts and will be deeply missed by many. Her adopted teenage son, Cody, allegedly killed Roberson Tuesday night.
Rhonda Platz, Harvey Baptist Church secretary, where Roberson regularly attended said she had received maybe 35-40 calls Wednesday morning from shocked parishioners inquiring about Roberson’s death.
“Is it true? Did it really happen?” is what Platz heard from concerned church members inquiring in disbelief about the events occurring Tuesday night.
“She took it upon herself to fix up our library,” Platz said. “It was a real mess and she made it a nice place. She was very well liked here.”
Roberson had been employed for 17 years by the Texas Cooperative Extension at the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center.
She had received numerous awards including national awards for her work as Webmaster according to her direct supervisor, Ron Wooley, district extension administrator.
Wooley said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. Wednesday morning regarding the death of his employee and friend.
“We’re all pretty shook up,” he said. “We’re shocked and saddened.”
Several of Roberson’s coworkers are members of Valley Grove Baptist Church. They called their pastor, Glenn Shock, to help them through a difficult emotional morning, Wooley said.
“She was a self-starter, a dedicated staffer, and over the years she taught herself quite a bit about the computer,” Wooley said. “She was invaluable as the Webmaster for the center.”
Vickie Norton, office manager said she had known Roberson the entire 17 years of her employment with the company.
“Jana could do anything she set her mind to,” Norton said. “She made quilts, painted crafts and was always redecorating her house. We cover 21 counties through our office and she was well known for her computer service. She helped everybody. Jana will be extremely missed by our whole district.”
Norton said Roberson was known for having a soft spot for babies and children.
“Anytime anyone came to the office with a baby, she was the first to jump up and ask if she could hold it,” Norton said.
Norton said their office would close in order to allow the employees to attend funeral services.
Stephenville Empire Tribune (http://empiretribune.com/articles/2007/02/01/news/news01.txt)
By SARA VANDEN BERGE News Editor
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/5678/phototl7.jpg
A mother is dead and her 17-year-old son is in custody, accused of beating her to death with an aluminum baseball bat Tuesday night inside the family’s Stephenville residence.
Jana Roberson, 50, was found dead in her home by authorities who responded to a frantic 911 call they received at 10:53 p.m. The call was apparently made by relatives of murder suspect Cody Roberson’s 15-year-old girlfriend, who was with him at the time of the murder.
Authorities confirmed late Wednesday that they located what they believe to be the murder weapon - the baseball bat - about eight miles north of Stephenville, on U.S. Highway 281.
The investigation into what actually transpired before, during, and after the crime remains ongoing.
What’s known is that Jana Roberson received a phone call from her son, Cody, Tuesday evening asking for a ride for he and his girlfriend from an undisclosed location.
But when the three arrived back at the family’s home, something went terribly wrong.
“We don’t know yet what sparked the incident,” Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said. “But we hope to find out.”
Bryant said when officers with the Stephenville Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of the deceased in a section of the house described as an “enclosed porch.” She had been beaten to death.
The suspect and his girlfriend had apparently left the home in the victim’s vehicle and headed to Mineral Wells to stay with a friend. When that friend could not be located, the couple came back to Stephenville, where Roberson dropped off his girlfriend and fled once again.
He was apprehended in Early shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday by an Early police officer and a Brown County sheriff’s deputy after a foot-chase.
He was arrested and transported to the Brown County Jail.
The suspect has a history of family violence, and was arrested in December for allegedly assaulting his mother in a separate incident. He was then released on probation, but a warrant for his arrest was recently reissued after he violated probation. The mother did not have a protective order against her son, Bryant said.
“She loved him so much that she did not want to sign a protective order that would keep him away,” Bryant said.
Authorities said the suspect was adopted by Jim and Jana Roberson when he was an infant, and lived in Stephenville for the majority of his life. According to Stephenville Independent School District officials, Roberson attended Stephenville High School for four months — from August through December of 2004 -- then transferred to Erath Excels! Academy.
“Erath Excels wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Jana Roberson,” said Debra Miller, director of Excels! Academy.
“For the short period of time Cody was enrolled in EEA, school personnel were in daily contact with his mother concerning academic issues,” Miller said. “We grieve the loss of a wonderful, caring parent and our prayers are with her family, including the son she loved. Administrators and counselors met with students and staff for a crisis debriefing. Counselors will be available for students, parents, and staff as needed.”
Meanwhile, Bryant said Cody Roberson is expected to be transferred to Erath County “very soon” to face murder charges.
Sara Vanden Berge covers courts, law enforcement, and business and political issues for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com. Her work number is 968-2379, ext. 240.
Baseball bat murder -- Jana Roberson remembered as ‘talented,’ caring individual
By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST
Jana Roberson was known as a talented individual who loved computers and crafts and will be deeply missed by many. Her adopted teenage son, Cody, allegedly killed Roberson Tuesday night.
Rhonda Platz, Harvey Baptist Church secretary, where Roberson regularly attended said she had received maybe 35-40 calls Wednesday morning from shocked parishioners inquiring about Roberson’s death.
“Is it true? Did it really happen?” is what Platz heard from concerned church members inquiring in disbelief about the events occurring Tuesday night.
“She took it upon herself to fix up our library,” Platz said. “It was a real mess and she made it a nice place. She was very well liked here.”
Roberson had been employed for 17 years by the Texas Cooperative Extension at the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center.
She had received numerous awards including national awards for her work as Webmaster according to her direct supervisor, Ron Wooley, district extension administrator.
Wooley said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. Wednesday morning regarding the death of his employee and friend.
“We’re all pretty shook up,” he said. “We’re shocked and saddened.”
Several of Roberson’s coworkers are members of Valley Grove Baptist Church. They called their pastor, Glenn Shock, to help them through a difficult emotional morning, Wooley said.
“She was a self-starter, a dedicated staffer, and over the years she taught herself quite a bit about the computer,” Wooley said. “She was invaluable as the Webmaster for the center.”
Vickie Norton, office manager said she had known Roberson the entire 17 years of her employment with the company.
“Jana could do anything she set her mind to,” Norton said. “She made quilts, painted crafts and was always redecorating her house. We cover 21 counties through our office and she was well known for her computer service. She helped everybody. Jana will be extremely missed by our whole district.”
Norton said Roberson was known for having a soft spot for babies and children.
“Anytime anyone came to the office with a baby, she was the first to jump up and ask if she could hold it,” Norton said.
Norton said their office would close in order to allow the employees to attend funeral services.
Stephenville Empire Tribune (http://empiretribune.com/articles/2007/02/01/news/news01.txt)