A Florida man accused of stabbing his girlfriend 15 times inside their home was denied bond after a 911 call in which he admitted to the killing was played in court. Kyle Sanchez, 35, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a weapon in the death of 37-year-old Amanda Roark, a defense technology engineer who worked for a Tampa-based innovation platform supporting the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Tuscan Loon Drive in the Palm River area just after 3 p.m. on June 19 following a 911 call reporting an emergency at the residence. When they arrived, they found Roark dead with upper-body trauma. Sanchez was also at the home and was taken to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries, where he was listed in stable condition, according to authorities.
During a pretrial detention hearing, prosecutors played a recording of Sanchez’s 911 call, in which he told a dispatcher, «I murdered my girlfriend.» FOX 13 Tampa reported that Sanchez is accused of stabbing Roark 15 times. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge denied Sanchez bond, and he will remain in custody as the first-degree murder case proceeds.
Authorities have not released a motive or additional details about what led up to the fatal attack. The sheriff’s office said the case appeared to be domestic-related.
Roark worked at SOFWERX, a Tampa-based technology organization that describes itself as «an innovation platform for the United States Special Operations Command.» In a statement, SOFWERX remembered Roark as a cherished teammate and «a light in the Tampa community.» The organization said, «We are heartbroken by the loss of our Teammate Amanda Roark. Amanda was a cherished member of the SOFWERX family and a light in the Tampa community. Her warmth, her dedication, and the genuine care she brought to everyone around her made a lasting impact that words cannot fully capture.»
Roark’s college friend, Talia Landman, told FOX 13 that Roark was «an absolute light» who welcomed everyone with a «gigantic smile.» Landman described Roark as a talented engineer who mentored young women pursuing careers in math, technology, and engineering. «He didn’t just kill or murder his girlfriend. He took away Amanda Roark,» Landman said. «He took her life as this woman who had so much going for her.»
The case has drawn attention to the issue of domestic violence, with advocates noting the tragic loss of a promising professional. Roark’s colleagues and friends have expressed shock and grief over her death, emphasizing her positive impact on those around her. As the legal process moves forward, Sanchez remains in custody, and the community continues to mourn the loss of a woman described as a dedicated engineer and mentor.