Crime & Safety

Man Convicted of Brutally Taking Roswell Couple Hostage

Tyler Alexander Grogan was sentenced Thursday for the 2011 attack.

Life in prison is the certain fate of 22-year-old .

A Fulton County jury convicted Grogan on Wednesday, March 6, of Rape, Aggravated Sodomy, Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, False Imprisonment, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Damage to Property in the 1st and 2nd Degree and weapons charges; he was sentenced Thursday afternoon.

The series of terrifying events began on May 2, 2011 inside the Grand Cirque Drive apartment of a Roswell couple. Grogan, who was an acquaintance of the male victim’s brother, knocked on the apartment door under the pretense of visiting his friend. Once inside, Grogan drew a weapon on the victim and his girlfriend and demanded “dope.” Grogan then struck the male victim in the face with the gun and robbed him of several hundred dollars. Meantime, another woman who hid in a bedroom closet unbeknownst to the defendant was able to notify police of the robbery in progress. The apartment was soon surrounded by SWAT officers. Grogan attempted to escape once through a balcony window but retreated when he discovered the strong police presence. He fired several shots at police before returning to the apartment where he held the couple hostage.

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At one point during the ten hour ordeal, Grogan cut a hole into a neighboring apartment - forcing his hostages into that unit as well. The neighbors were able to escape prior to Grogan’s access. Grogan eventually released the male hostage. The female was held inside and sexually assaulted at gunpoint. She escaped when the defendant fell asleep on the couch. He was apprehended by police who stormed the apartment following the woman’s escape.

Grogan was sentenced by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey to seven consecutive life sentences plus 270 years in prison consecutively for his brutal attack. 

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The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daysha Young with assistance from ADA Demone Lee and DA Investigator Richard Beck - all of whom are assigned to the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit. Detective R.L. Marbut of the Roswell Police Department led the initial investigation.


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