Disclaimer: The content shared in this post is based on publicly available records, law enforcement reports, court documents, and firsthand witness testimony. While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy, this narrative has been shaped with the help of AI tools for clarity and storytelling purposes. The views expressed are personal and should not be taken as legal or official findings.
Branden Riddle Terrell Cuts Off His Ankle Monitor
On February 7th, 2012, Branden Riddle Terrell made a dangerous choice: he cut off his ankle monitor, a device he was required to wear as part of his probation after a violent domestic violence incident. He was violating the terms of his release, and soon found himself on the run, desperate for a place to hide.
The Drive Up to Ryan’s house and Brandon’s State of Mind
Before Brandon Riddle-Terrell ever stepped foot in Ryan Roth’s home that night, red flags were already waving. According to a police interview with Chase—the man who accompanied Brandon on the drive to Auburn—this was their first time ever hanging out one-on-one. What followed was a chaotic trip north that Chase would never forget.
As they made their way from Brentwood to Auburn, Brandon consumed 25 to 30 whippets (nitrous oxide), rendering him completely incoherent for much of the drive. Chase described him as so disconnected from reality that he didn’t even try to talk to him. Despite the heavy substance use, Brandon’s demeanor shifted back to “normal” by the time they arrived.
Sometime around the 20th, was when he made his way to his friend Ryan Roth’s home, a quiet residence tucked away in the gated community of Lake of the Pines. Ryan, who was known for being generous to those in need, wasn’t harboring a fugitive—he was simply doing what he often did: helping someone out with a small job. This job was trimming some cannabis for extra cash in his garage the days.
Branden Riddle Terrell Invites the Girls: A Call That Set the Deadly Night in Motion
That night, February 22nd, 2012, was not supposed to be anything out of the ordinary. Branden invited two women he knew—Melissa and Yvonne (who sometimes went by the name Denise)—to join him for a night out. He called them up, and soon they were on their way to meet him at an Applebee’s in Auburn.
Before heading to Auburn, Yvonne made a quick stop to pick up cocaine. She later testified that she purchased around one to two grams before Melissa picked her up in Sacramento. The two women then drove together to meet Branden and a group that included Ryan, Chris, Chase, and Bryan.
Dinner at Applebee’s: Branden Riddle Terrell’s Last Meal Before Violence
By all accounts, the Applebee’s outing started out uneventful. Everyone appeared to be getting along, drinking casually and having a good time. Ryan paid for everyone’s dinner and Branden paid for his own alcohol. Upon departure from the Applebees and on the way back to Ryan’s house, Melissa and Yvonne made a stop at a nearby Safeway in their own car, while Branden was likely riding with them, though it’s unclear exactly who purchased alcohol during that stop. It was late when they finally arrived back at Ryan’s house inside the gated community.
Ryan, (who was sober) had other priorities that evening. He wasn’t focused on entertaining guests. In fact, he had left to go to his aunt’s house also in the Lake of the Pines community to fix her sink. He called his mother Geraldine on the way there, mentioning that he was growing irritated with the group’s drinking and partying at his home.
Arriving at Ryan Roth’s House: The Night Turns Dark
Melissa and Yvonne later testified that after their arrival at the house at around 10 or 10:30 PM, Branden began drinking heavily, pouring from a bottle of brown liquor, possibly whiskey. Branden drank whiskey with the group and eventually asked Ryan—who was notably sober—to go out and get more alcohol. Ryan refused. Branden was also taking hits of nitrous oxide—known as whip-its—a behavior that had allegedly been going on for days prior to that night. According to Chase’s testimony, Branden had been doing whip-its on the initial trip up to Ryan’s house days before.
According to testimony, everyone that night was drinking and using the cocaine except for Ryan who remained sober.
Around 11 p.m., Ryan had a phone call with the mother of his children, Heather Roth, from his bedroom. According to Heather, they were on the phone for about an hour, and Ryan remained in a separate room, avoiding the gathering in the house.
Branden Riddle Terrell’s Growing Intoxication: A Dangerous Combination
That night, Branden drank whiskey straight from the bottle, did lines of cocaine that were about four inches long, and inhaled a series of nitrous oxide “whippets.” Yvonne testified that Branden’s drug use that night was excessive, stating, “He couldn’t even put a sentence together. He was babbling nonsense.”
At one point, Branden reportedly pulled out a knife—a foot-long weapon that was later clarified to be a five-inch double edged serrated blade with a large handle and a strap—and according to a statement to police-made a chilling statement: “This is the knife I use to put people six feet under.” This disturbing comment was allegedly made roughly two hours before the attack according to a witness statement, but Branden did not appear to be making a direct threat at that time. His behavior began putting everyone on edge.
At some point after hanging up the phone, Ryan returned to the living room, stretching out on the couch- perhaps winding down for the night, unaware of how much Branden’s behavior had shifted.
A Night No One Would Ever Forget: Branden Riddle Terrell’s Last Moments of Restraint
As the night unfolded, Branden’s behavior became more disturbing. He stood up from the table, pacing around the kitchen, making rambling statements like, “I’m not going back to jail. I’m going out like a motherf***ing gangster.” Tension in the room thickened, and although Ryan had remained disengaged from Branden’s behavior up to that point, the night was about to take a violent turn.
He continued to hold the knife, waving it around as he walked through the kitchen and into the living room, where Ryan was lying on the couch possibly falling asleep.
The night that began as an small unexpected gathering was spiraling into a nightmare, and what happened next would leave scars that no one in that house would ever forget.
Why We’re Speaking Out
Branden Riddle Terrell has spent the years since Ryan’s murder attempting to rewrite history—painting himself as a victim of addiction rather than taking responsibility for the brutal, premeditated attack he committed. His public statements frame that night as a mistake, an accident, a lapse in judgment fueled by substances. But the reality, as told by forensic evidence and witness testimony, paints a much darker truth.
The night of February 23, 2012, in our opinion was not an accident. It was a deliberate act of violence. Branden was not a lost, struggling addict—he was a man who armed himself with a knife, made repeated statements about violence, and then carried out an unprovoked attack. His actions were not impulsive; they were intentional.
Now, after serving time, Branden has taken to social media, using Ryan’s name to build a platform. He positions himself as a reformed figure, speaking on addiction and second chances—while completely erasing the pain he caused, the suffering Ryan endured, and the devastation left in his wake. His narrative is manipulative, self-serving, and an insult to those who truly knew and loved Ryan.
This is why we speak out. Not out of anger, not out of vengeance—but out of truth and what we believe. Ryan deserves that. His family, his friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy deserve that. And the world deserves to know who Branden Riddle Terrell really is and ecide.
Disclaimer: Branden Riddle-Terrell was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 killing of Ryan Roth. While the criminal court accepted a plea deal that avoided a full murder trial, the details of this case—supported by firsthand witness testimony and law enforcement records—remain deeply disturbing. In our eyes, this was a brutal and unjustified murder, and we continue to speak out in pursuit of truth and accountability. The views expressed here reflect our family’s experience and interpretation of events, grounded in the documented facts.
➡️ Continue to Part 2: The Moment Branden Riddle Terrell Launched His Attack continue on to the moment Branden’s erratic behavior escalates into something no one in that house could have predicted
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