Preliminary hearing set for accused road-rage killer

The preliminary hearing for the man accused in the Chester County road-rage killing of 18-year-old Bianca Roberson has been set for next week.

David Desper, 28, of Trainer, Delaware County, is scheduled to appear in front of Chester County Judge William D. Kraut at 9 a.m. on July 13, according to court documents. Desper remained jailed without bail Thursday.

Repeated knocks at the door of Desper's home, as well as at the nearby home of relatives, have gone unanswered over the last few days. So have notes left at both Trainer homes seeking comment.

As the victim's father, Rodney Roberson, prepared for Bianca's Friday funeral, he said Wednesday that the family vowed to attend the court session next week.

Roberson said he wants to ask Desper: "What gave you the right? What made you think it was all right to take my daughter?"

Bianca Roberson's funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Baptist Church in West Chester, with a viewing beginning at 8.

Police said Bianca Roberson was shot and killed about 5:30 p.m. on June 28 while driving in the southbound lane of the Route 100 bypass, just north of 202. Her green 2009 Chevrolet Malibu was attempting to merge into the lane with a red pickup truck when the shooting occurred, police said.

Roberson's car veered off the road as the pickup's driver sped off toward Delaware County, setting off a three-day, multi-state manhunt.  Sunday morning, Desper surrendered at the Media office of his lawyer, Dan McGarrigle, who has declined comment.

Right after the shooting, Rodney Roberson said he racked his brain for something Bianca might have done to anger Desper. But he said that such behavior would have been out of character for his outgoing, polite daughter, a recent Bayard Rustin High School graduate who was set to attend Jacksonville University in the fall.

"She would never challenge someone like that," Roberson said. "What could my daughter have done to make that man mad?"