After a two-week trial, a Cowlitz County jury found John Roach guilty of Murder in the First Degree. The evidence presented at trial showed that on February 14, 2021, the victim Lisa Patterson was sleeping on a ramp behind the YMCA in Longview after midnight. Roach was observed on surveillance walking by Patterson’s location. Patterson was stabbed multiple times and suffered a fatal neck wound. DNA testing later revealed Roach’s DNA to be present on Patterson’s upper thigh, on two bloody locations on the outside of the blanket that was pulled over her, and on her hat located under her body. Roach told detectives he heard voices, went into a trance, saw the aftermath, freaked out, and covered Patterson up. In jail, Roach bragged to his cellmates about having murdered Patterson and said he would pretend to be mentally ill to avoid incarceration. He was examined by a forensic psychologist from Western State Hospital who found he was malingering his symptoms of mental illness. He later told his own psychologist that voices in his head had told him to murder Patterson.
The jury found Roach acted with premeditated intent to kill when he murdered Patterson. Washington’s Adult Sentencing Guidelines set Roach’s standard sentencing range at 312 to 416 months. The Court sentenced the 49-year-old Roach to 340 months in prison. Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Bentson and Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tony Carlow litigated the case on behalf of the State. Our office appreciates the Longview Police Department detectives for their efforts investigating this crime and their assistance during the trial.