A 19-year-old was given a life sentence in the 2018 robbery and murder of a 49-year-old DeKalb County man who was stabbed more than three dozen times in his apartment.
Riki Albury Jr. is the second defendant to be convicted in the murder of Ronald Roach, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Authorities said Albury and 21-year-old Jared Kelvin Smith stabbed and beat Roach before stealing his car and driving it around for weeks. Another woman — Kessiah Rowe — also faces murder charges in the man’s death.
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Authorities determined the murder was robbery-motivated after a friend discovered Roach’s body inside his home on Flat Shoals Road. He had been stabbed 38 times in his chest, neck and back, police said. Investigators also determined Roach was beaten after finding blunt-force injuries to his head.
DeKalb police said Albury, Smith and Rowe targeted Roach after a previous gathering at his apartment. They later returned and demanded money when an argument ensued, prosecutors said. Roach was chased into his bedroom and attacked.
The defendants stole the man’s cellphone, wallet and keys before leaving in his car, prosecutors said. After their arrests, they all reportedly blamed each other for the slaying.
MORE: 2 young people accused in death of DeKalb man stabbed 33 times
Albury was convicted of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, theft by taking and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison plus five years of probation.
Smith, who was convicted in July of stabbing Roach, has a sentencing hearing scheduled for next week, prosecutors said.
ALSO: 21-year-old convicted of stabbing DeKalb man 38 times during robbery
Rowe is still behind bars, but hasn’t had her trial yet.
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