LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Prosecutors were back in court last week in response to a request filed by one of the men who kidnapped, raped, and murdered Stephanie Roper in 1982. Jerry Lee Beatty, 59, petitioned the Court for release pursuant to the Juvenile Restoration Act, citing he was only 17 years old at the time of the offense, among other reasons.
Arguments from the defense and the State were presented in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court over a two-day period. Also present in court was Stephanie’s mother, Roberta Roper, who provided an impassioned victim impact statement after being denied that opportunity for over 40 years.
“Roberta Roper’s unwavering resilience in the face of profound tragedy is a testament to her strength,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “Her powerful statement marked a victory she secured for all crime victims and a fulfillment of her relentless advocacy in Stephanie’s name.”
On April 3, 1982, Stephanie Ann Roper, a 22-year-old college senior, was abducted in Prince George’s County after her car broke down. Beatty and Jack Ronald Jones raped her and eventually took Stephanie across multiple county lines to an abandoned house in Oakville, Maryland. After arriving in St. Mary’s County, Beatty and Jones raped Stephanie again, tortured her, and murdered her, before setting her body on fire and dismembering her.
Although the case was originally charged in St. Mary’s County in 1982, it was subsequently transferred to Anne Arundel County after prosecutors sought the death penalty. The Juvenile Restoration Act, which was enacted in 2021, permits defendants who were juveniles at the time of their offense to petition for a reduced sentence after serving 20 years of incarceration.
St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling and Special Assistant State’s Attorney Gavin Patashnick represented the State on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
The Honorable Elizabeth S. Morris presided. A written opinion will be issued by the Court.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling thanks Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess and Cecil County State’s Attorney James Dellmyer for their support in this matter.
There is a section of Rt 4 in Anne Arundel named for her as a memorial highway .
The Memorial sign reminds me of what these heinous monsters did to that young girl . They put her through hell , yet I know the Devil and hell awaits both of these monsters . May they ROT in jail ..
Ditto!
Regardless of one’s age, the heinous acts of this individual having to do with the rape, torturous acts and adding to the mix dismemberment is unconscionable!
Surely the juvenile restoration act of 2021 was not designed for such an evil individual!
This is a very sick mind that could never ever-ever be rehabilitated!
He needs to stay exactly where he is for the rest of his evil life!
I don’t care how old he was , he should have been put to death, period. The fact the he’s still alive shows how bad our justice system is. The only way he should be let out of jail is in a body bag. The beautiful young lady didn’t deserve what happened to her.
I remember quite vividly when this event happened. The murder of Stephanie Roper was brutal, cruel, and sadistic. It was the most horrific murder that I can recall in Saint Mary’s County. There is no punishment of Beatty that can reconcile the evil that he did. The most that our law allows us to do is keep him incarcerated. He should never have a taste of freedom for the rest of his life.
Them rotting in jail sounds like a good plan and a fair result for their actions. I too am a rape victim, but managed to survive and ID my attacker …he was only 15 at the time. He was picked out of a lineup in NYC by approx. a dozen different women. He was thought to have been the murderer in a similar case in which the victim was killed. He was let out once and re-offended … tge he was let out again and re-offended. This happened in the mud-1960’s … he is up for parole in 2028. Rapists are rapists rapists. They can’t be released … I am almost 82 now and have suffered from OTSD every day if my life since the attack (he punched me in the face and then held a knife at my throat the whole time. If he gets released, and if I am still alive, I will track him down. He didn’t kill me, but he killed a large part of my life. Keep these guys in jail FOREVER, please.
Rebecca, God be with you. You are a strong and righteous person. I would feel the same as you do.
These two are a great example for the death penalty.
This is one of the most heinous and depraved cases I ever heard growing up. They showed her no mercy and when she tried to escape they shot her and tortured her some more and set her on fire. I attended high school with her sister at that time. I can still remember the details of that horrific crime. That family suffered immeasurable pain but her mom went on to establish a foundation named after her daughter to advocate for crime victims. These 2 monsters should have been put to death.
No freedom ever. They need to stay locked up forever. What a tragedy. They ruined many lives with their action(s).
This animal should never be released from Prison. Roberta Roper lives every day with what they did to her daughter. The only final punishment for this violent criminal will be burning in hell. Exactly where he belongs.
Both murderers should have gotten the death penalty.
Absolutely.
I heard from someone that Jack Jones hung himself in prison.Dont know for sure.
Let him rot in there