A Texas teen who strangled and beat his mother to death, leaving a trail of her teeth and blood throughout their family home before stuffing her body in the trunk of a car and leading police on a 110mph chase, has been sentenced. The twisted killer, Tyler Roenz, received a 40-year prison sentence for the horrific 2022 murder of his mother, Michelle.
The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to the brutal attack as well as tampering with evidence and was imprisoned on Friday. The investigation into Roenz began on October 13 when both the then-17-year-old and his 49-year-old mother were reported missing by the teenager’s father. The report was filed after the father returned home to find a tooth in the family’s garage, along with a trail of blood leading to the master bedroom, where he discovered a large pool of blood and an additional four teeth. He also reported that his wife’s black Mazda was missing.
Authorities tracked Tyler Roenz through Oklahoma and Kansas based on license-plate readers and a series of credit card purchases at petrol stations in Michelle Roenz’s name, until the black Mazda was eventually spotted in Nebraska. Texas authorities alerted the Nebraska State Police that the car, believed to be traveling within the Cornhusker State, was linked to a recent homicide. Approximately 15 minutes after the alert, state troopers reported they had sighted the car and attempted a traffic stop, which resulted in a swift high-speed chase.
After a harrowing high-speed chase that ended with a crash into a tree near Aurora, Nebraska, the 19-year-old was left seriously injured and subsequently hospitalized. The shocking discovery of his mother’s body in the trunk of the Mazda he was driving led to his arrest in Nebraska before being extradited to Texas. Nebraska authorities have confirmed that Michelle Roenz’s death has been ruled a homicide by a medical examiner, citing strangulation and blunt force trauma as the cause.
Tyler Roenz faces a long stretch behind bars, with the DA’s office stating he won’t be eligible for parole until at least 20 years into his 40-year sentence. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed the gravity of the situation, saying: “This is an awful tragedy for this family. It was important that this defendant took responsibility for what he did, and now he will spend decades in prison for his actions.”
The case has left the community in shock, with many grappling to understand how such a horrific event could unfold within a family. The sentencing marks a grim closure to a tragic chapter, ensuring that Tyler Roenz will face the consequences of his actions for many years to come.