In the quiet corners of Pickens, Georgia, a grim discovery was made on March 19, 1981, that would unravel a story of familial betrayal and violence. Roy Lee, a 48-year-old male, was found deceased in his home, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound to the back. His wife, 50-year-old Aville R. Romine, was also found murdered in the bedroom, having been shot in the chest. The tranquility of their lives had been shattered, leaving a community in shock and a family torn apart by a devastating act.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed towards a suspect from within their own family circle. Larry Romine, Aville's 45-year-old son and Roy Lee's stepson, was arrested in connection with the murders. The motive for this heinous crime appeared to be robbery, as Aville's purse and a recent paycheck were missing from the home. The weapon used in the killings was determined to be a. 16 gauge shotgun that belonged to Larry Romine's girlfriend, Ginger McEntire. Further evidence against Romine came to light when witnesses reported seeing him burning items in a trash barrel after the murders, which were later identified as belonging to his mother.
The legal proceedings that followed painted a dark picture of a son who had taken the lives of his mother and stepfather. Larry Romine was indicted for the murders of Roy Lee and Aville R. Romine, as well as the armed robbery of his mother. In April 1982, a jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death. However, the path to justice was not straightforward. Romine's initial death sentence was reversed by the Georgia Supreme Court in June 1983 due to procedural issues. Despite this, he was resentenced to death in August 1985. Over the years, Larry Romine continued to appeal his conviction and sentence, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the sentence was upheld.
