Stephon Roby is a Saginaw, Michigan, man who was convicted in 2014 of fatally shooting his mother, Leigh “Annie” King, 42, and his 11-year-old sister, Sharleea “Budda” King, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. A Michigan appellate court later overturned those convictions, finding that trial-court errors had deprived him of a fair trial. He is awaiting a new trial in Saginaw County Circuit Court, most recently scheduled for 2026.1MLive. Stephon Roby Topic Page
The Killings on Hess Street
On March 6, 2013, Leigh King and her daughter Sharleea were found shot to death inside Leigh King’s home at 208 Hess in Saginaw.2MLive. Stephon Roby Charged With Murder Roby, then 23, was charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and four firearm offenses.3Washington Times. Saginaw Man Gets Life Sentence in Murders No motive has been publicly reported.
The 2014 Trial and Life Sentences
Roby represented himself at trial before Saginaw County Chief Circuit Judge Fred L. Borchard. Multiple pretrial psychiatric examinations found him competent and criminally responsible.4Monroe News. Saginaw Man Gets Life Sentence Because he was acting as his own attorney, Borchard ordered him to wear a concealed stun vest during proceedings as a security measure.5MLive. Saginaw Man Convicted of Murder Sentenced for Jail Weapon He told jurors there was “absolutely zero evidence” against him and did not testify.1MLive. Stephon Roby Topic Page
The jury convicted him on all counts. On January 21, 2015, Borchard imposed two mandatory terms of life without parole.3Washington Times. Saginaw Man Gets Life Sentence in Murders Roby announced he would appeal.
Why the Convictions Were Overturned
A Michigan appellate court reversed the murder convictions, finding that errors by Judge Borchard had deprived Roby of a fair trial and that potential evidence pointing to another suspect had not been adequately addressed at the original proceedings.6ABC 12. Saginaw Man Convicted of Killing Mother, Sister Wants Certain Evidence Thrown Out in New Trial
Borchard’s conduct had drawn scrutiny elsewhere. In the separate murder prosecution of Kareem Swilley Jr., the Michigan Supreme Court found the judge had improperly questioned a witness in a manner more prosecutorial than neutral, criticizing him for attempting to “drill” into the defendant’s alibi and for demanding a witness produce financial records.7CBS News Detroit. Michigan Murder Conviction Overturned, Judge Was Too Aggressive
The Pending Retrial
With his convictions vacated, Roby was granted a new trial, and the case was reassigned to Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre Borrello.6ABC 12. Saginaw Man Convicted of Killing Mother, Sister Wants Certain Evidence Thrown Out in New Trial This time he is represented by defense attorney Jeffrey Rupp, and his lawyers have filed a notice of intent to present an insanity defense, a strategy absent from the first trial.
At a pretrial hearing, Roby told the court he wants to show that the police investigation “stopped once they started to look at me as a suspect and didn’t look at anyone else.” He has also moved to suppress a set of keys to the home where the killings took place, arguing they were unlawfully seized. Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor John Kauten told the court there was “nothing to suggest that these keys were in some way illegally seized” and that they “came into police custody” and “were not even Mr. Roby’s keys to begin with.”6ABC 12. Saginaw Man Convicted of Killing Mother, Sister Wants Certain Evidence Thrown Out in New Trial Judge Borrello did not rule on the motion at that hearing.
The retrial, initially expected shortly after that hearing, was pushed back to allow for the change in counsel and the preparation of the insanity defense. It is currently scheduled for 2026.1MLive. Stephon Roby Topic Page