Eyewitness News has received the affidavit of probable cause for Terrence Roach.

“I, Detective Brent A. Melton, believe that on or about July 17, 2016, at 403 E. Iowa in Evansville, Indiana, find that the defendant Terrence Roach did commit the crimes of:

Murder

Burglary

Kidnapping

Criminal Confinement

Abuse of Corpse

On July 17, 2017 at approximately 9:15, Central Dispatch received a 911 call from the Beckerle residence at 403 E. Iowa reporting that Aleah Beckerle had been abducted from the residence.

Aleah Beckerle was a 19 year old female that was handicapped and in a wheelchair, unable to walk and only able to utter few words, like “mom”.

Aleah was completely dependent upon other’s care, requiring to be fed, bathed and needed specific medications for seizures.

Information was provided that she was placed in her bed as usual after being fed on Saturday night, July 16, 2016.

The following morning, the Beckerle family awoke to find her missing and her mother, Cara Beckerle, called 911.

An intense investigation began including a massive crime scene effort and multiple search warrants being issued over the months that followed. The investigation was a massive effort on the part of multiple organizations besides the EPD and FBI.

Searches were completed on well over a hundred locations including vacant homes in the city, creeks, lakes, areas along the Ohio River as well as island between the land of Kentucky and Indiana on the river with the assistance of the Ohio Valley Search and Rescue dog teams.

Ultimately, on Monday, March 27, 2017, a badly decomposed body was found inside of a vacant house at 1628 S. Bedford. This came from information developed after a citizen searching for abandoned property came across the corpse.

An autopsy was completed at the Vanderburgh County Coroners Office on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 by Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Jacobi which was able to confirm that the identity of the corpse was that of Aleah D. Beckerle.

A search warrant was executed on the residence of 1628 S. Bedford, where Aleah was located, by the Evansville Police Crime Scene Unit, who processed and collected evidence on the scene.

The investigation then led to speaking with neighbors around the Bedford residence, which provided the information that Terrence W. Roach had lived next door to the 1628 S. Bedford residence.

Roach was found to be a half brother of a younger sister living in the Beckerle residence with Aleah, which developed him as a person of interest.

On Friday, March 31, 2017, Roach was located and voluntarily came to EPQ headquarters for an interview.

Roach was read his Miranda Rights verbally, which he stated that he understood.

Roach ultimately confessed to the crime, stating that after smoking “Katie” (K2 – synthetic marijuana) that the idea of going and taking Aleah just “popped in his head.”

Roach admitted to breaking and entering into a side window of the bedroom belonging to Aleah.

Roach explained that he did this so he “wouldn’t wake up his other sisters”.

Roach stated that he then picked up Aleah, explaining how he exactly carried her and the advised he put her back out the same window, before picking her back up and placing her into his truck.

Roach admitted to intentionally taking Aleah and then driving her to the vacant house at 1628 S. Bedford, where he intentionally confined her inside.

During this time period, after using duct tape on the victim, Roack reported that Aleah died while in the residence.

Roach then advised that after Aleah had died, he then had sexual intercourse with the corpse.

Detective Thiry assisted with the interview and multiple facts were clarified and confirmed by Roach providing details of his crimes.

Roach was then arrested and then transported and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on the listed charges.

A complete Case File will be forwarded to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutors Office at a later time.”