PALM BEACH COUNTY, A Palm Beach County jury rejected a first-degree murder charge Friday in the case of a homeless man accused of stabbing a 14-year-old boy to death, instead convicting him of second-degree murder.
Semmie Lee Williams Jr., 43, described as a drifter who believed he was being stalked by gangs, encountered Ryan Rogers, a freshman at William T. Dwyer High School, while the teen was riding his bike after school on the night of Nov. 15, 2021. Rogers’ body was discovered the following morning near his bicycle in a wooded area along the Interstate 95 overpass in Palm Beach Gardens. He had been stabbed 10 times, primarily to the head and neck.
Prosecutors characterized the killing as an act of random violence, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Jurors determined that while Williams was responsible for Rogers’ death, the evidence did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was premeditated. As a result, they found him guilty of second-degree murder with a weapon.
The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for more than five hours, beginning late Thursday afternoon and concluding shortly before 2 p.m. Friday. Both the defense and prosecution focused heavily on the issue of premeditation during closing arguments, which followed a weeklong trial.
The case took an unexpected turn earlier this month when Williams withdrew his insanity plea and entered a plea of not guilty. During the trial, public defenders Stephanie Gagerie and Courtney Wilson did not reference Williams’ schizophrenia diagnosis. Instead, they argued that he believed he was being subjected to “gang stalking” by various groups and claimed he had come upon Rogers’ body by chance and fled without contacting authorities out of fear of law enforcement.
Jurors rejected that account, siding with prosecutors who presented DNA evidence linking Williams to the crime. Williams’ DNA was found under Rogers’ fingernails and on a pair of headphones tangled in the teen’s bicycle. Prosecutors also introduced surveillance footage placing Williams in the area and testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy who said Williams confessed while being fingerprinted at the jail.
Despite that evidence, jurors agreed with the defense that the state did not sufficiently prove premeditation, even though prosecutors pointed to the number of stab wounds and surveillance footage they said showed Williams disposing of evidence.
Rogers’ father, Brian Rogers, declined to comment extensively after the verdict, saying only that he was not satisfied with the outcome. Other family members also chose not to speak publicly.
Assistant State Attorneys Jo Wilensky and Richard Clausi said they were pleased with the verdict and indicated they would continue seeking the maximum sentence. Second-degree murder carries a possible sentence of life in prison, though a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
State Attorney Alexcia Cox said the verdict holds Williams accountable for Ryan Rogers’ death and expressed hope that it would bring some measure of justice to the family and the community affected by the tragedy.
