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.
Continued from Part 1.. A Night of Horror – How Branden Riddle Terrell Turned a Gathering into a Nightmare for Ryan Roth
As the night progressed, Branden Riddle Terrell’s demeanor shifted from erratic to dangerous. Witnesses described him as “acting a little bit strange” before the attack, making unsettling comments.
Branden Terrell Murder: Branden’s behavior escalates inside of Ryan Roth’s home
Branden Riddle Terrell stood up from the table, pacing the kitchen with restless energy. His movements erratic, and his tone shifting between aggression and paranoia. Witnesses later described his behavior as unnerving—his eyes blank, as if he wasn’t fully present. He wasn’t directing his words at anyone in particular, but the statements were disturbing.
Yvonne testified that Branden had been pacing near the kitchen, rambling to himself, and stating, “I’m not going back to jail” and “I’m going out like a motherf*ing gangster” while waiving a knife—a five-inch double-edged serrated blade with a large handle. She noted that although he was holding a knife, he was initially speaking toward the kitchen rather than directly at Ryan. At one point, he got uncomfortably close to her, causing her to back away, though she did not perceive it as a direct threat at that moment.
Yvonne, seated at the table, noticed that as he moved, Branden’s back was facing Ryan Roth, who was reclining on the couch in the living room, watching TV. Ryan had not engaged with Branden’s erratic behavior up to this point. But as Branden continued pacing and waving the knife, the tension in the room became palpable.
Witnesses stated that Branden continued to wave the knife around as he walked toward the living room area. Bryan recalled that when Branden crossed into the living room area, he repositioned himself in the kitchen to distance himself from what was happening. He then heard Branden say, “This is going to be savage. I’m going out like a gangster.”
Branden Terrell Murder: Ryans Attempt to Disarm Branden
At this point, tension in the room escalated. Witnesses stated that Ryan had not been engaging with Branden but suddenly became aware that others were uncomfortable. Seeing Branden waving the knife erratically, Ryan, from his reclined position on the couch, reached up with his right hand in an attempt to grab the knife or stop the escalation.
Rather than stepping back or disengaging, Branden immediately reacted by turning and launching into a frenzied attack.
Branden Terrell Murder:
The Moment He Launched His Attack
Without hesitation, Branden began stabbing Ryan repeatedly. Yvonne testified that Ryan screamed, “Stop!” as he was being stabbed. But Branden didn’t stop. He continued stabbing, over and over again. Yvonne described seeing deep wounds on his chest, arm, and face as the attack unfolded.
Chris, who had been outside gathering firewood moments before, turned to witness the chaos unfolding. Bryan stated that at the moment he witnessed the attack, he saw Ryan come from a laying position to a seated position and strike Branden in the face—possibly as an attempt to push him and the knife away or defend himself. In response, Branden continued his attack, stabbing Ryan multiple times.
Chris and Bryan leapt into action. They tackled Branden, wrestling to pry the knife from his grip. Bryan grabbed his left wrist, trying to restrain him, while Chris worked to disarm him. But Branden, fueled by rage and adrenaline, broke free—and went back to stabbing Ryan.
Chris and Bryan fought harder, finally managing to tear the knife from Branden’s hands and throw it outside onto the deck, far from his reach. Ryan lay on the floor, bleeding profusely.
According to Bryan, the sounds of the stabbing were audible—he testified that he “could hear the knife hitting the skin.” He described hearing Ryan scream and groan in pain, followed by a final “grunt noise.”
At least 18 major stab wounds covered Ryan’s body, in addition to multiple slashes. The attack was frenzied, targeting his face, neck, chest, arms, and back. The forensic evidence later revealed devastating injuries:
• A deep skull wound, fracturing the bone but not penetrating the brain.
• A stab wound grooving the cervical spine (C2 vertebrae), showing that Branden had driven the knife downward into Ryan’s body while he was incapacitated.
• A 4.25-inch stab wound through the shoulder into the collarbone.
• Multiple deep chest wounds, one of which punctured Ryan’s right lung, leading to catastrophic internal bleeding.
• His right ear was severed, showing the extreme force behind the attack.
• Blood in both lungs, indicating that Ryan was still alive, breathing, and trying to fight for his life while suffocating from internal bleeding.
The coroner later confirmed that Ryan had not died instantly. He had likely remained conscious for 15-30 minutes after the attack, suffering as his lungs filled with blood. He bled out over minutes, his body desperately trying to hold on.
Branden Terrell Murder: His Chilling Words Moments Before His Attack
In the moments after the attack, the room fell into shock. Witnesses testified that Ryan was lying on the floor, severely wounded and bleeding out.
According to Chase’s statement, Branden took a step back, looked down at Ryan, and then turned toward Chase and made a chilling statement:
“God can only judge me.”
This moment stood out in testimony as a disturbing indication of Branden’s state of mind. Rather than expressing remorse or concern, he appeared detached, even defiant.
Branden Terrell Murder: The Aftermath
As the reality of what had just happened set in, panic took over. Yvonne ran into the bathroom to hide before eventually fleeing outside and taking cover behind a neighbor’s truck. Melissa, who had stepped away briefly before the attack, returned to find Ryan lying on the ground, bleeding. She attempted to call 911 but, along with others in the house, struggled to recall the exact address.
Despite his claims of self-defense, no evidence suggested that Ryan posed any threat to Branden that night. Witnesses consistently testified that Ryan had not been drinking, using drugs, or acting aggressively. The only aggressor in the room was Branden Riddle Terrell, and the forensic evidence painted a grim picture of the sheer savagery of his attack.
The chaos inside was overwhelming. Branden Riddle Terrell, now unarmed, was momentarily subdued. But the damage had already been done.
Ryan was dying on the floor. And nothing could stop it.
As Branden fled the scene, he wasn’t finished with his rampage. In Part Three, we uncover what happened after the attack—including Branden’s escape, his violent assault on Melissa, and the moment he was finally caught.
Ryan Roth was brutally murdered that night, and the truth of what happened must never be forgotten because of a failed court system and a plea deal. Despite Branden Riddle Terrell’s later claims of self-defense and even being drugged, the forensic evidence and witness testimony prove otherwise.
Branden Terrell Murdered Ryan in our opinion and we will always see it that way.
Justice for Ryan means telling his story exactly as it happened.
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.
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