Texas carried out the execution of Cedric Allen Ricks on March 11, 2026, at 6:14 p.m. after nearly 12 years on death row. Ricks was convicted for the brutal murders of his girlfriend Roxanne Sanchez and her eight-year-old son, crimes that shocked the Bedford community and beyond.
Cedric Allen Ricks, born in Chicago in 1974, projected a facade of stability but harbored a violent streak dating back to childhood. After losing his job during Illinois’ financial crisis, he sought a fresh start in Texas, reconnecting with Roxanne Sanchez, his girlfriend and mother of three children.
Their relationship began positively; Ricks appeared loving and supportive, quickly becoming part of Roxanne’s household. However, controlling behavior soon surfaced. The once affectionate partner grew jealous, isolated Roxanne from friends, and dominated the relationship, escalating tensions behind closed doors.
In 2012, their son Isaiah was born, seemingly heralding a new chapter. Instead, conflict intensified. Ricks’ aggression exploded into physical violence, forcing Roxanne to seek an emergency protective order—a step that unfortunately failed to end his rampage.
On the evening of May 1, 2013, Ricks violently violated the court order. Waiting outside Roxanne’s Bedford apartment, he erupted in fury when she returned with her children. His verbal 𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓊𝓁𝓉 escalated into a savage attack that unfolded inside apartment 1400, horrifying nearby witnesses.
A brutal fight ensued. Ricks overpowered Roxanne, inflicting severe head trauma before methodically stabbing her around 30 times, fatally severing her cervical spine. Amid the chaos, Roxanne’s eight-year-old son Anthony heroically attempted to defend her but was stabbed over 40 times, suffering fatal brain injury.
Ricks continued his attack on the eldest son, Marcus, who fled and hid in fear. Despite severe stab wounds sustained trying to fend off Ricks, Marcus survived by feigning death when the killer ceased his 𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓊𝓁𝓉, mistakenly believing the boy was dead. Meanwhile, baby Isaiah remained unharmed in his crib throughout the carnage.
After the horrific murders, Ricks displayed chilling calmness: he cleaned himself, changed clothes, packed belongings, kissed his infant son, then fled in Roxanne’s car, taking her cell phone. Police responded after Marcus managed a 911 call and found the scene, but Ricks had vanished by that time.
Authorities tracked Ricks to Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he was arrested without incident hours later. Injured from the attacks, he was hospitalized, then transferred to Texas to face charges. During his trial, Ricks admitted to the killings but falsely claimed self-defense, 𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃𝓈 the jury rejected.
On May 8, 2014, a Texas jury found Cedric Allen Ricks guilty of capital murder for the deaths of Roxanne Sanchez and her two sons, sentencing him to death on May 16, 2014. He spent nearly 12 years on death row, a comparatively brief period before the ultimate penalty was carried out.
Ricks’ execution was scheduled for March 11, 2026. On the morning of his lethal injection, he underwent spiritual visitation and received a tranquilizer to calm his nerves. At 5:30 p.m., he was secured in the chamber; the lethal drugs were administered promptly at 6 p.m. witnessing an agonizing 30 seconds before death.
At 6:14 p.m., Cedric Allen Ricks was officially declared dead without offering final words. His execution closed a dark chapter in Texas criminal history, bringing justice for Roxanne Sanchez and her sons, and marking a somber moment for the families and community affected by this tragic violence.
Following the tragedy, surviving son Marcus moved in with his biological father to recover from his trauma. Baby Isaiah was placed in the custody of Roxanne’s parents, who intend to adopt him and change his last name, protecting the child’s future away from the shadow of this nightmare.
This case of brutal domestic violence and tragic murder reverberates as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked rage and 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮. Texas’ swift enforcement of the death penalty underscores the gravity of Ricks’ heinous acts and the demand for justice in such harrowing situations.
