The mother of Andrea Roan lashed out at the man accused of killing her daughter as he shuffled out of a Denver courtroom Wednesday morning.
Ryan Miller, who is accused of shooting 27-year-old Roan as she drove from her home in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood, was formally advised of the first-degree murder charge filed against him.
On the morning of Dec. 16, Miller, 27, is alleged to have shot Roan, his former girlfriend, as she was driving in the alley between the 1200 blocks of Elizabeth and Clayton streets.
Roan’s mother, Lyrl Jensen, trembled before Miller was brought into the courtroom. As he entered, she wailed and was overcome with tears.
Miller, clean-shaven and dressed in gray, stared forward. He spoke once in a whisper as he leaned toward his attorney.
A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 30.
As Miller was escorted out of the courtroom, Jensen screamed out an expletive at him.
Miller’s friend, Richard Leavitt, 27, was charged with one count of being an accessory to a crime — a felony — for allegedly driving Miller to and from Roan’s apartment building and helping him hide the murder weapon after the shooting.
Miller and Leavitt were arrested later that afternoon.
Leavitt was released Dec. 17, after he posted a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2100 at 1:30 p.m. Friday to be formally advised of the charge.
Roan was a fifth-grade teacher at Alsup Elementary School in Commerce City.
About 9 p.m. Dec. 3, Miller is alleged to have jumped Roan after she returned to her apartment building. Roan had tried to end her relationship with Miller a few days earlier.
Miller threw Roan into an elevator and against a kitchen wall before neighbors intervened, according to court documents.
Officers arrived and arrested Miller, who was ticketed for assault and disturbing the peace. Soon after, the charges were upgraded to misdemeanor assault and false imprisonment, and a judge ordered Miller not to contact Roan.
Miller posted $5,000 bond and was released.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
