Houston man convicted of murdering father and girlfriend

HOUSTON – A Houston man was sentenced after pleading guilty to drug-related killings of his girlfriend and father in 2021, the Harris County District Attorney's Office said.

Larry Britton, 41, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for murder for killing Joanne Rosas, 40, and Larry Britton Sr., 69, in August 2021.

“This was not an accident or a mistake or anything other than a premeditated double murder,” said District Attorney Kim Ogg. “The choices this defendant made have hurt two families immeasurably, and now he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Britton had previously been charged with capital crimes, but he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of murder to avoid a life sentence.

Prosecutors said Britton was using PCP late the night of the shooting at his home in northwest Houston, where he lived with his father. Rosas also lived at that home.

At some point, Britton shot Rosas at home, chased his father out of the house, and then shot him in the street.

Officers found Britton Sr. dead outside. Rosas was still alive at the time and told officers what had happened. She died of her injuries about three weeks later.

“These two people are lost forever because of the actions of this defendant – two different families are still suffering because of what he did,” said Assistant District Attorney Phillip White, who tried the case. “It's good that both families were able to get justice.”

As part of the agreement, Britton cannot appeal the verdict and must serve half of the sentence before he can be released on parole.