Man could get life in murder of fiancee

Kim Smith

Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

A Henderson man who claimed his fiancee died as the result of a seizure may end up serving a no-parole life sentence after being convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder.

After deliberating three hours over two days, a Clark County jury found Stephen Briller, 41, guilty of the March 2000 murder of Teri Roberts, 33. They also convicted him of robbery and theft.

Although an autopsy failed to reveal a cause of death, Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens told jurors that Briller spoke of strangling Roberts before and after her death.

Deputy Public Defender Drew Christensen had argued that Roberts experienced a phenomenon known as SUDEP or Sudden Unexpected Death of an Epileptic Patient.

"Everything was pointing toward his guilt," said juror Natashi Black. "Even with SUDEP he didn't stand a chance. Her medical history said that she only suffered petty mal seizures, which would not have killed her."

Briller, who has 15 prior felony convictions, has opted to have District Judge Donald Mosley sentence him instead of the jury.

Mosley must decide on July 16 whether to give Briller a life sentence with parole possible after 20 years or a no-parole life sentence.

Christensen and Owens agreed it was a difficult case to try.

"There was a lot of evidence that suggested guilt, but at the same time, there was medical evidence indicating otherwise," Christensen said.

Owens said Briller killed Roberts after learning she had told his uncle he was blowing a $150,000 inheritance on drugs, gambling and topless entertainment.

Roberts was last seen March 1, 2000, and her badly decomposed body was found in her bed three weeks later.

In the days after Roberts was last seen, Briller had her three dogs euthanized, pawned a large number of her belongings and showed up at his uncle's home in Los Angeles demanding the rest of his inheritance.

Briller was arrested in Florida 18 months later while living under an assumed name.