HOUSTON — A tragic narrative unfolding over three years culminated with John Alberto Roman, formerly charged with aggravated robbery, now facing capital murder charges for the presumed death of Breandrea Wiley, his girlfriend. Authorities allege Roman orchestrated Wiley’s disappearance to prevent her from testifying against him in an upcoming trial.
Breandrea Wiley, originally from Columbus, Texas, seemingly vanished without a trace after relocating to Houston with Roman in 2021. Her move followed their involvement in a violent crime incident in Columbus in October 2020. According to police records, the episode involved a man who was lured by Wiley under the pretense of a sexual encounter, only to be tased, shot, and robbed by Roman. Wiley later disclosed to authorities that the plan was Roman’s and that she had been coerced into participation.
Investigative documents reveal that Wiley maintained usual contact with her family and was employed regularly until her communications abruptly ceased in January 2022. Notably, the last confirmed sighting of Wiley was recorded by a surveillance camera, which captured Wiley and Roman leaving their apartment on the morning of Jan. 12, 2022.
Details from that fateful day indicate Wiley was active, sending messages and making a pharmacy run after her work, only for her interactions to turn distressing by the afternoon. She contacted her family, visibly upset, shortly before Roman was reported to have taken her phone during a call and disconnecting it. Subsequent footage shows Roman speaking with Wiley before they departed in their Jeep, marking the last visual confirmation of her presence.
Roman noticeably returned alone later that day, igniting suspicion. By Jan. 20, Wiley’s absence was palpable, prompting her mother to report her missing. This set off a chain of investigative measures leading to the search and eventual seizure of the couple’s vehicle on Feb. 2, where authorities discovered removed sections of carpet and traces of blood, confirming a violent encounter had taken place.
Adding to the complexity, investigators uncovered that Roman had taken measures to isolate Wiley leading up to her disappearance. He allegedly changed her phone number and limited her interactions, which authorities believe was an attempt to control her communications and prevent her from testifying against him in his ongoing legal troubles.
Despite Roman’s subsequent arrest and the mounting circumstantial evidence pieced together by police, Wiley’s body has not been recovered, leaving a grieving family and a fraught community seeking answers and justice. Roman, now 40, has since been tried and convicted for the 2020 aggravated robbery, receiving a 99-year prison sentence, yet he remains largely uncooperative with law enforcement regarding Wiley’s case.
This tragic case underscores the devastating impacts of manipulation and violence, resonating deeply within the Columbus and Houston communities and amongst all those advocating for victims of domestic violence and witness intimidation. As the legal proceedings against Roman continue, many hold onto hope for closure and justice for Wiley and her loved ones.