Part 3: Branden Terrell Arrest- The Escape, Chase & Final Lies
Disclaimer: The content shared in this post is based on publicly available records, law enforcement reports, court documents, and firsthand witness testimony. While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy, this narrative has been shaped with the help of AI tools for clarity and storytelling purposes. The views expressed are personal and should not be taken as legal or official findings.
Branden Terrell Arrest: Chaos at the Crime Scene & Branden’s Last Words
The house was in chaos. Ryan Roth lay motionless on the floor, blood spreading beneath him. The air was thick with panic.
Melissa, frozen in shock, saw Ryan as she rushed through the house. Witnesses ran—some hiding behind a neighbor’s truck, others frantically trying to call 911. But none of them knew the exact address.
And as the confusion unfolded, Branden Terrell stood over Ryan’s body, looking down at the man he had just stabbed to death. According to witness Chase, in that moment, Branden muttered just six words:
“God can only judge me.”
Then, he ran.
The Escape: Branden & Melissa Flee
Melissa attempted to call 911. Then, caught in the chaos, she followed Branden out the door and he instructed her to drive him out of there. The two jumped into her car and fled Ryan’s home in Lake of the Pines. At this moment, Melissa didn’t yet understand the full extent of what had just happened—but Branden did.
Melissa was still processing seeing Ryan dying, but Branden? He already had a new narrative in his head—one where he wasn’t the villain.
Branden’s Confession – “I Did It. I F’ing Killed Him.
As they drove, Branden’s energy shifted. He had just committed an unspeakable crime, but he wasn’t panicked. He wasn’t remorseful.
Branden Terrell called his mother, Jean. But he wasn’t crying, panicking, or even acting shaken. Melissa was in shock.
Melissa testified, "He had gotten on the phone to call his mom and started saying, kind of rambling saying some stuff that wasn't making any sense".
Melissa hadn’t even asked what had happened yet.
So according to her testimony, she did.
And that’s when Branden admitted it.
“I did it. I F’ing killed him.”
He went on to say “This is ride or die shit.”
"This is Bonnie and Clyde shit now. You’re my ride.”
Melissa knew she was sitting next to a murderer. And now, she was alone with him, driving. Melissa testified, " I remember my heart felt like it was going to go through my chest and felt like I couldn't breathe."
She needed to get out.
The Strangulation Attempt – Melissa Fights for Her Life
Melissa took a turn onto Highway 49, trying to think of a way out of what she got herself into. Instinctually, she pulled the car over, shut off the engine, and sat in silence for a few seconds.
But then, Branden snapped.
🚨 He lunged at her, wrapping both hands around her throat, his thumbs pressing into her Adam’s apple.
His grip was tight, forceful, and aggressive.
Somehow, she broke free, threw open the car door, and ran and hid.
Instead of chasing her, Branden stole her car and sped off.
Later, bruises and abrasions would be found on her neck, upper chest, and even her ear. Melissa testified that the marks remained on her neck for at least two weeks after the attack and had lingering scars.
The 911 Call – Jean Tries to Control the Situation
As Branden fled, his mother, Jean, was already on the phone with 911.
She later claimed that her call saved Branden’s life—that she had convinced officers not to shoot because she told them he was having a psychotic break.
Whatever her intentions, police were already closing in.
They had tracked Melissa’s stolen Nissan Sentra heading toward Sacramento County.
And they were ready.
The 50-Mile Police Chase & Branden’s Final Phone Call
Branden raced down the highway, refusing to stop.
🚨 Spike strips were deployed, tearing through his tires.
🚨 The rims hit the pavement, sparks flying.
🚨 Even with the car breaking down beneath him, Branden kept driving.
And through it all, he was still on the phone.
With his mother.
For nearly an hour, Jean listened as Branden rambled incoherently. According to her he was saying:
• He said he was Jesus.
• He said he was a warrior.
• He said he was the President.
She asked him what had happened to Ryan.
Branden blurted out a response.
“Ryan’s fine.”
Then, he went back to rambling, detached from reality.
But police weren’t waiting for his conversation to end.
The chase was over.
The Take Down – Branden Terrell Arrested
When Branden finally stopped the car, officers surrounded him, weapons drawn. They ordered him to drop the phone and exit the vehicle.
He didn’t comply.
Jean, still on the phone, heard the officers yelling orders. She pleaded with her son to do as they said.
Then—a loud boom.
The K-9 unit dragged him from the vehicle, and officers quickly moved in to place him under arrest.
The high-speed chase was over.
Post-Arrest Confessions: “I Knew I Was in Deep Shit”
Post-Arrest Confessions: “I Knew I Was in Deep Shit”
After the high-speed chase ended and Branden Riddle-Terrel was pulled from the vehicle by K-9 unit and arrested, his behavior immediately offered disturbing clarity about his state of mind. According to the police report, Branden stated that he had “a couple of cocktails and one line of what [he] thought was cocaine,” then added, “I went crazy.” He told the officers, “I knew I was in deep shit.”
These were spontaneous admissions made while sitting in the back of a patrol car, without being questioned—statements that made it crystal clear: this was not a man unaware of his actions. He acknowledged the voluntary use of substances and the consequences that followed. These key statements were never brought up by the District Attorney during the preliminary hearing and were buried in police documents we’ve only recently obtained.
Calculated Clarity: Questions, Property, and Self-Preservation
Despite claiming to be in a haze and later threatening an insanity plea, Branden showed remarkable clarity just hours after the murder. When transported and being interviewed, he asked detectives specific questions about money he had on him, whether it would go on his jail books, and described in detail the exact contents and locations of his personal belongings. He knew how much money he had ($275) and which pocket it was in (his left pocket) showing clear memory and awareness of his belongings. This was not the behavior of someone in a psychotic state—this was someone fully aware of what was happening, concerned about his property, and clear on the logistics of his arrest.
Later, when prompted about the attack, he claimed “two guys came to the house” and said “I was being set up”—a far cry from the truth, which involved him knowing his own friend that drove him to Ryan's house brought two large knives into the home and launching a brutal, sustained attack with one of them. His fabricated self-defense story falls apart under the weight of the evidence, yet the DA never challenged it in court with the powerful testimony and evidence that was available.
Branden’s Mental State – No Signs of Psychosis
Branden was transported to Kaiser South Hospital in Elk Grove for evaluation.
🚨 Officers described him as cold, emotionless, and detached.
🚨 He showed no signs of confusion, psychosis, or hallucinations.
🚨 He never asked about Ryan—only about his own belongings and money.
Branden had been clear-headed enough to:
• Invoke his right to an attorney.
• Ask what happened to his money.
• Accurately recall details about his belongings.
Even with Ryan Roth dead, Melissa injured, and his own freedom gone, Branden Terrell only cared about himself.
Branden Terrell’s Last Lie – The “Self-Defense” Story
When police finally sat him down, Branden had one last trick up his sleeve.“ Two guys came into the house.” “I was attacked.” “I was set up.”
🚨 But every piece of evidence told a different story.
🚨 Witnesses saw Branden initiate the attack.
🚨 The coroner’s report confirmed a brutal, sustained stabbing.
🚨 Melissa had nearly become his second victim.
Branden wasn’t a victim. He was a violent offender trying to rewrite history. The same way he does today.
Today, A Murderer Walks Free
Ryan’s life was stolen. Branden’s crime was complete. And yet, justice never truly came.
No remorse. No accountability. Only deception.
He served just 10 years. Now, he’s trying to rewrite history. But the truth doesn’t die with the victims.
And this time, we won’t be silent.
Disclaimer: Branden Riddle-Terrell was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 killing of Ryan Roth. While the criminal court accepted a plea deal that avoided a full murder trial, the details of this case—supported by firsthand witness testimony and law enforcement records—remain deeply disturbing. In our eyes, this was a brutal and unjustified murder, and we continue to speak out in pursuit of truth and accountability. The views expressed here reflect our family’s experience and interpretation of events, grounded in the documented facts.
