Scott Roeder

Scott Roeder is a 51-year-old Merriam, Kansas, resident who was arrested on May 31, 2009, in the shooting death earlier that day of Dr. George Tiller. Tiller, who had been gunned down while attending church at about 10:00 a.m., specialized in the controversial practice of late-term abortion.

Roeder was formally charged with first degree murder charges on June 2, 2009. He also faces two charges of aggravated assault charges in connection with the case.KSN (Wichita): Roeder Charged with Murder of Dr. Tiller

On April 1st, 2010, Roeder was sentenced to the maximum sentence of life in prison, and will not be eligible for parole for 50 years. The Kansas judge presiding over the case had the option of reducing this to a 25-year parole eligibility but chose to inflict the most severe sentence to Mr. Roeder.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

On January 29, 2010 Scott Roder was convicted of first-degree murder for the murder of Dr. George Tiller. The twelve person jury, comprised of fie women and seven men, took only 37 minutes to reach their decision. Roeder was also convicted on two counts of aggravated assault, from threatening to shoot church ushers as he fled the murder scene. Roeder now faces life in prison.http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tiller-trial30-2010jan29,0,6710089.story

Scott Roeder was pulled over and apprehended on Interstate 35 outside of Wichita, Kansas, hours after Dr. George Tiller was shot and killed. Roeder's views on abortion were not reported at the time of his arrest.Associated Press: Abortion doc George Tiller gunned down at church (May 31, 2009) KSHB TV: George Tiller Fatally Shot at Wichita Church (May 31, 2009) KAKE 10 (KS): 51-Year-Old Arrested In Dr. Tiller Murder (May 31, 2009)

Roeder reportedly matched the description of an unnamed suspect sought earlier in the day: a white male driving a 1993 blue Ford Taurus that was registered in nearby Merriam, Kansas.KSHB TV: George Tiller Fatally Shot at Wichita Church (May 31, 2009) KAKE 10 (KS): 51-Year-Old Arrested In Dr. Tiller Murder (May 31, 2009)

On June 1, 2009, FOX News reported that a man named Scott Roeder had "a background of anti-abortion postings on sympathetic Web sites" as well as a criminal history. This Scott Roeder was said to be a member of an anti-government group known as the Montana Freemen. It was not immediately clear if this Scott Roeder is the same person accused of murdering Dr. George Tiller.FOX News: Details Emerge About Suspect in Abortion Doctor's Killing (June 1, 2009)

On April 1st, 2010, Scott Roeder was sentenced to life in prison, with no parole eligibility for the next 50 years. While Roeder was already due to serve a minimum life sentence, the judge presiding over the case had the decision of selecting when Roeder would be eligible for parole; Roeder could have been eligible for parole as early as 25 years from his sentencing.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

Roeder spoke at his sentencing and stated that the decision to kill Dr. Tiller was "agonizing", but he defended his act by saying that he prevented Dr. Tiller from "killing again". He went in depth about how his crime was "the most agonizing and stressful decision" in his life, and that he took "years" to come to his conclusion. He understood that he might never see his wife, children, and family again, but he also remarked that the State of Kansas was truly at fault for allowing Dr. Tiller to continue running his abortion clinic. His ex-wife, notably, is a supporter of abortion and women's abortion rights, and she has stated that she feels no remorse whatsoever after hearing about her ex-husband's life sentencing.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

Roeder explained that the State of Kansas had the :duty of protecting all of the people, including the those whom Georger Tiller killed." He asserted that had the State of Kansas fulfilled this duty, he would not have shot Dr. Tiller, and that the State was more to blame for the crime than he was.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

Roeder often quoted from the Bible and from Scripture in his statement. The abortion debate, naturally, has deep roots in religious material, and Roeder has frequently used religious reasons to garner support for his cause.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

Tiller's attorney, Lee Thompson, stated that Roeder committed an act of "domestic terrorism", noting that Roeder robbed Tiller's family of a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1

Prosecutors for the case argued for Roeder's 50-year ineligibility for parole by, while the defense team tried to depict Roeder as a polite and courteous religious man, who would spend hours discussing the Bible.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html?hpt=T1