Photo courtesy of Texas Chronicle
In March 1996, a quiet Austin neighborhood became the center of one of the city’s most disturbing domestic murder cases. Penny Scaggs, a respected wife, mother, and churchgoing woman, was brutally killed inside her own home. The man ultimately convicted of her murder was the person closest to her — her husband of more than three decades, Roger Scaggs.
What initially appeared to be a shocking home invasion quickly unraveled into a story of betrayal, secrets, and violence behind closed doors.
Who Was Penny Scaggs?
Penny Scaggs was known in Austin as a deeply religious woman devoted to her family and faith. She was involved in church activities and often spoke to other women about marriage, commitment, and Christian values. To outsiders, her life looked stable and orderly, built on decades of marriage and shared routines.
Friends described her as warm, disciplined, and dedicated. No one suspected that her marriage, often held up as an example, was quietly falling apart.
The Night Penny Was Killed
On the evening of March 6, 1996, Penny was at home alone. At some point that night, she was attacked inside her residence near her piano. The assault was violent and personal. Penny suffered blunt force trauma to her head and multiple stab wounds, indicating a prolonged and frenzied attack rather than a quick robbery or random crime.
There were no clear signs of forced entry, and nothing of significant value appeared to be missing from the home.
Later that evening, Roger Scaggs called 911, reporting that he had come home from work and discovered his wife dead. First responders arrived to a gruesome scene — but immediately noticed details that didn’t sit right.
Early Red Flags for Investigators
From the start, investigators focused on Roger Scaggs. Despite the amount of blood present at the crime scene, Roger showed no visible signs of having come into contact with Penny’s body. His demeanor was calm, detached, and inconsistent with someone who had just discovered his spouse murdered.
As police continued digging, more troubling details surfaced. Items believed to be connected to the murder were later recovered near Roger’s workplace. Evidence inside the home suggested the crime was staged to look like something it wasn’t.
What truly shifted the case was the discovery that Roger had been involved in a long-term extramarital affair with a significantly younger woman. The affair had gone on for years and contradicted the carefully maintained image of a faithful, devout husband.
A Marriage Cracking Behind Closed Doors
While Penny publicly promoted strong marriages and Christian family values, investigators learned that her private life told a different story. The marriage was strained, filled with tension, and burdened by Roger’s infidelity.
Prosecutors later argued that Penny may have been preparing to confront or expose the affair, threatening Roger’s reputation, finances, and carefully constructed image within their religious community.
To the state, the motive was clear: control, fear of exposure, and a desire to preserve appearances at any cost.
The Trial of Roger Scaggs
Roger Scaggs was charged with Penny’s murder and stood trial in Travis County. The case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, timelines, and inconsistencies in Roger’s statements. Prosecutors presented a narrative of a husband who snapped when his double life was at risk of being revealed.
The defense argued that the evidence was not definitive and suggested alternative possibilities, but jurors were unconvinced.
Roger Scaggs was convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison. He continued to maintain his innocence after the verdict, insisting that he did not kill his wife.
Why This Case Still Haunts Austin
The murder of Penny Scaggs remains one of Austin’s most unsettling domestic homicide cases. It shattered the idea that deeply religious, long-married couples are immune to violence. It also highlighted how carefully curated public images can conceal years of deception.
For many, the case serves as a reminder that danger doesn’t always come from strangers. Sometimes it lives inside the home, hidden behind respectability, routine, and reputation.
Penny Scaggs lost her life in the place she should have been safest — and the man sworn to protect her was the one convicted of taking it.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
