WASHINGTON — Ronald Roldan, the man investigators believe was the last to see
pregnant Loudoun County mother Bethany Decker alive nearly five years ago, has
been charged with attempting to kill his girlfriend in North Carolina.
Roldan was arrested Thursday after he was discharged from Wake Forest Baptist
Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Roldan is charged with three crimes: assault with a deadly weapon with intent
to kill inflicting serious injuries, discharging a firearm in an occupied
dwelling causing serious injury, and assault on a female.
Pinehurst Police Deputy Chief of Police Floyd Thomas tells WTOP police responded
to a 911 call for a domestic violence incident at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov.
12.
Thomas said Vickie Willoughby, described as Roldan’s girlfriend, shot Roldan
twice — once in the chest and once in the abdomen. Roldan grabbed Willoughby’s
38 caliber handgun and shot her once in the head. She is expected to survive.
Willoughby fled to a neighbor’s home, where police found her.
Willoughby will not be charged, according to police, because she fired in self-
defense.
Loudoun County investigators have said Roldan was living with Decker before she
disappeared in January, 2011, while five months pregnant.
At the time, Decker was married to Emile Decker, who was serving in Afghanistan.
He has since returned to the U.S.
Bethany Decker had described Roldan’s demeanor to family and friends as
“controlling and abusive,” according to investigators and court documents.
Roldan’s mother’s home was searched, with a search warrant, soon after Bethany
Decker’s disappearance.
Loudoun County investigators say Roldan eventually stopped answering questions.
Thomas, the North Carolina deputy chief, says his department has provided
information about Roldan’s recent arrest to Loudoun investigators.
Andi Geloo, Roldan’s attorney in the Virginia case, had no immediate comment on
the North Carolina arrest.
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