The Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center has announced the death of Vincent Roper. Roper was for decades a major force in advancing victims’ rights in Maryland. He died early Thursday morning. after experiencing trouble breathing, He was taken to local hospital near his home in Prince George’s County, where he died. Vincent Roper was 79 years old.
The names of Vincent Roper and his wife Roberta have become synonymous with victims rights in Maryland. For decades, the couple worked tirelessly on behalf of crime victims. The Ropers had been married more than 50 years and Vince died just hours after receiving a Governor’s proclamation on April 3, crediting the couple’s works. That date was also the anniversary of his daughter Stephanie’s murder in 1982 in St. Mary’s County.
In paying tribute to Vincent Roper, Governor Martin O’Malley said, “Along with his wife Roberta, Vince Roper worked tirelessly to see that victims of crime were treated with dignity and respect, and given all the rights due under law. When the laws were proven to be inadequate, they worked to get old laws changed, or new laws passed. Countless Marylanders have benefitted from their dedicated service and thousands of lives are better because of their work. “
“The work of Vince and Roberta Roper has left an indelible mark on every aspect of the criminal justice system in Maryland,” said Tammy Brown, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, “influencing how victims are treated and serviced during and after the criminal justice process “Their compassion and commitment have had an impact on the lives of countless crime victims in the state, helping them through experiences that are often tragic and traumatic, for their service and dedication we are truly thankful.”
Vincent was a 1956 graduate of the Naval academy and served in the Navy for thirty years. But in 1982 his life and the life of his wife Roberta changed dramatically after the kidnapping, rape and murder of their daughter Stephanie, a Senior at Frostburg State.
At the time, the Roper family was excluded from observing the trial and was denied the right to present a victim impact statement at sentencing. This led to great frustration and anger on the part of the family, their friends and members of the community where they lived in Prince George’s County. Spurred by this, The Ropers took on the cause of victims’ rights, including the right of victims’ families to address the court before sentencing. They actively lobbied and advocated for rights and support services to crime victims and their survivors.
As part of this effort, in 1982 the couple, formed the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, Inc. and Roberta served as its Executive Director for 20 years.
