Ronald Roldan: Virginia man gets 12 years for killing pregnant GF, disposing off her body in trash compactor
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA: A Virginia man will spend over 12 years in prison for second-degree murder after admitting to killing his pregnant girlfriend more than 10 years ago. In November 2022, Ronald Roldan pleaded guilty to charges of murder related to the kidnapping and death of Bethany Anne Decker, 21.
Decker, a former student at George Mason University, vanished from her Loudoun County, Virginia, apartment in January 2011 when she was 21. Her body was never found, but her boyfriend, Roldan, admitted to disposing of it at a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, February 21, in a Leesburg courtroom, according to FOX 5 Washington DC.
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'We are proud to bring justice for Bethany'
Buta Biberaj, the district attorney for the county, said, "On behalf of Loudoun County and our office, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Bethany Decker. We appreciate their patience and support." Attorney further added, "We are grateful for the efforts of Detective Mark Bush and our partnership with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Our offices spent thousands of hours, including nights and weekends, to build the best case possible, which led to this resolution. We are proud to bring justice for Bethany," per WUSA.
How did Bethany Decker die?
According to detectives, Roldan allegedly shoved Decker during an argument, causing her to hit her head against a windowsill in their Ashburn apartment. Authorities claimed he never called 911 or attempted to save his pregnant girlfriend. Instead, he was reportedly accused of putting her body in a trash compactor using a Christmas tree trash bag, per NBC Washington.
Decker's family reportedly said that Roldan was abusive. Her grandmother, Evelyn Bayles, said he was "very controlling and that included threatening her and our family," per WTOP News.
What charges is Ronald Roldan facing?
Loudoun County deputies didn't announce their intention to charge Roldan with kidnapping until November 2020. He was extradited to Virginia from North Carolina, where he was already serving time for assaulting another woman. A month later, he was charged with second-degree murder concerning Decker's disappearance, as reported by Fox News.