In the quiet corners of Pickens County, Georgia, a grim discovery was made on March 19, 1981, that would unravel a story of familial betrayal and violence. Aville R. Romine, a 50-year-old white female, was found murdered in her home alongside her 48-year-old husband, Roy Lee Romine. The scene was a brutal one; both had been fatally shot with a. 16 gauge shotgun. Aville's body was discovered in the bedroom, while her husband's was found in the kitchen.
The motive for this shocking double homicide was determined to be robbery, as Aville's purse and a recent paycheck were missing.
The investigation into the tragic deaths of the Romines soon took a startling turn, leading authorities to a suspect they likely never anticipated: their own son. Larry Romine, who was 45 years old at the time, was arrested in connection with the murders of his parents. Investigators learned that Larry's lifestyle, which reportedly included drug use and extramarital affairs, had been a significant source of conflict with his parents. Tensions had escalated in the days leading up to the murders, with a heated argument taking place between Larry and his father.
Further evidence began to surface, painting a damning picture for Larry Romine. The shotgun used in the killings was identified as belonging to his girlfriend, Ginger McEntire, with whom he had been on the night of the murders. Eyewitnesses also reported seeing Larry burning items in a trash barrel shortly after his parents were killed, items that were later identified as belonging to his mother. Based on the mounting evidence, Larry was indicted for the murders of his parents and the armed robbery of his mother.
Larry Romine's case proceeded to trial, where he was ultimately convicted on all counts. In April 1982, he was sentenced to death for the slayings of his parents. However, the legal battle was far from over. The Georgia Supreme Court reversed his death sentence in 1983, citing issues with the presentation of mitigating evidence during his trial. Despite this, he was resentenced to death in August 1985. The case continued to navigate the complexities of the legal system, with a federal appeal challenging the fairness of his trial filed in 1996.
