The Romines’ Murder Story; Execution Date for Union County Death Row Inmate Scheduled

 

There are approximately 60 death row inmates in the State of Tennessee, one of which is from a Union County heinous murder/rape case. On March 25, 1987, Stephen Michael West was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and aggravated kidnapping of Wanda Romines and her 15-year-old daughter Sheila Romines, and he was also convicted of aggravated rape of Sheila.

After three decades, an execution date of August 15, 2019 has been set for West.

The incident took place on March 18, 1986 at the Romines’ home in the Big Ridge area. Stephen West (who was 23 at the time) and co-worker Ronnie Martin (17 at the time) had left McDonald’s in formally known Lake City during the wee hours of the morning. The two drove around drinking in Martin’s mother’s car for hours before deciding to visit the home of Martin’s classmate, Sheila. Sheila had rejected unwanted advancements from Martin.

At approximately 5:20 AM, after Jack Romines, Sheila’s father, left for work, Martin knocked on the Romines’ door with West standing nearby. The door was opened and the two made their way into the Romines’ home.

Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM the heinous attack on the mother and daughter occurred. Wanda was made to watch the rape of her daughter before being stabbed to death. Sheila also faced the same fate as her mother. Forensics stated the mother and daughter suffered from “torture type” stab wounds.

A neighbor of the Romines’ testified to witnessing the two men at the Romines’ house that morning, stating that the duo was stuck in his driveway, and they took down the neighbor’s fence post to use it in the process of getting their car out of the ditch.

The telephone wires in the Romines’ house had been ripped out, a fire arm was taken, and $200 was also taken. Jack returned home that evening to discover the murdered bodies of his wife and daughter.

West went on to work his regular shift at McDonald’s, never breathing a word of what had happened at the Romines’ home.

After conviction, West received a sentence of the death penalty by electric chair, and Martin, being a juvenile at the time, was sentenced to two life sentences in prison. Martin was believed to be the mastermind in the horrendous crime.

West has sat on death row since 1987. He has been granted stays more than once over the three decades. Litigation began as attorneys questioned if lethal injection violates the eighth amendment, which pended many death row sentences.

Jack Romines passed away in 2008.