On March 19, 1981, Aville R. Romine, a 50-year-old white woman, was found shot to death in the bedroom of her Pickens County, Georgia, home. Her 48-year-old husband, Roy Lee Romine, was also found fatally shot with a 16 gauge shotgun in the kitchen. Investigators determined robbery was a motive after Aville’s purse and a recent paycheck were reported missing.

Police arrested the couple’s 45-year-old son, Larry Romine, after evidence tied him to the killings. The shotgun used was identified as belonging to his girlfriend, Ginger McEntire, and witnesses said Larry was seen burning items shortly after the murders that were later identified as belonging to his mother. He was indicted for the murders and the armed robbery.

At trial Larry Romine was convicted on all counts and in April 1982 received a death sentence; the sentence was later reversed by the Georgia Supreme Court in 1983 because of issues with mitigating evidence, and he was resentenced to death in August 1985.