Homeless man arrested in homicide of 14-year-old child found near I-95
An arrest has been made in the case of a 14-year-old boy who was found stabbed to death near Interstate 95 in South Florida last month.
The body of Ryan Rogers, a freshman at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach County, was found after his mother said he had gone on a bike ride on Nov. 15. The body was located near an I-95 overpass several miles from his home.
“It appears to be an absolute chance encounter between a child on a bicycle and an animal that probably should not be out on our streets,” said Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Clinton Shannon at a press conference Thursday.
The suspect, Semmie Williams Jr., 39, was arrested in Miami-Dade County on Wednesday, and Shannon said the incident itself appears to be a random act. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
“We do not have a motive at this time,” Shannon said.
Shannon said the suspect appeared to be a homeless drifter who spends most of his time in Miami.
He has had several arrests over the years including in Seminole County; Georgia and San Diego, Calif., Shannon said. He said police have not determined any ties to the city or county.
“It’s a mystery to us why this man was in our community,” Shannon said. “We have evidence that places him on the scene and makes him responsible for the murder of this child.”
Initial reports were that Rogers’ death was the result of a bike-related accident, but then police later ruled it a homicide.
Shannon expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“They are experiencing an unthinkable tragedy and have experienced an unimaginable loss,” he said.