WICHITA , Kansas ( CNN ) -- Scott Roeder 's ex-wife said she believes her former spouse was capable of murder . Scott Roeder , 51 , is being held on a first-degree murder charge and two counts of aggravated assault . Roeder , 51 , is sitting in a Kansas jail , charged with murdering George Tiller , one of the few U.S. doctors who performed late-term abortion . `` He was determined that if the abortion doctor killed the baby , then he did n't have any right to live either , '' Roeder 's ex-wife Lindsey Roeder told reporters on Monday , refusing to show her face to cameras . Lindsey Roeder said their 10-year marriage ended 13 years ago in part because he had a fanatical preoccupation with certain views , including those on abortion . She said her ex-husband believed killing an abortion provider `` is justifiable , '' and described him as self-righteous and someone who may be capable of murder . Scott Roeder was charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault stemming from Tiller 's shooting death at Tiller 's Wichita church Sunday morning . Watch panel discuss ramifications of slaying » . During a brief initial court appearance , in which he appeared via video from the county jail , Roeder requested a court-appointed lawyer . He has made no plea , and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 16 . Police have not disclosed a possible motive in Tiller 's killing . But associates have told CNN that Roeder was a regular among the anti-abortion protesters who routinely gathered at Tiller 's Wichita clinic , Women 's Health Care Services . And records and interviews with family and fellow abortion protesters suggest Roeder had a fanatical preoccupation with abortion and used Christianity to support his beliefs . In 1996 , he was arrested in Topeka , Kansas , with explosives , a military rifle , ammunition and a gas mask in his car , according to records . His ex-wife said that at that time he intended to blow up an abortion clinic . A Shawnee County judge called Roeder a `` substantial threat to public safety '' telling him that one must follow the law as established , not the law as one might wish it to be . Roeder pleaded not guilty , spent 16 months in prison and eight on probation . But his lawyer argued on appeal that his car had been illegally searched , and Roeder 's conviction was vacated . He became known as a regular at protests outside abortion clinics , say those who rallied alongside him . Anti-abortion activists Anthony Leake and Regina Dinwiddie told CNN that Tiller had strong beliefs . `` He was a confessing Christian , '' Leake continued . `` He always had his Bible , which was n't uncommon . He professed faith in Jesus Christ . '' A man named Scott Roeder signed a message on the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue 's Web site in 2007 , calling for prayers to shut down Tiller 's `` death camp . '' `` Sometime soon , would it be feasible to organize as many people as possible to attend Tillers church ( inside , not just outside ) to have much more of a presence and possibly ask questions of the pastor , deacons , elders and members while there ? Does n't seem like it would hurt anything but bring more attention to Tiller , '' the message reads . National anti-abortion organizations , including Operation Rescue , condemned Tiller 's slaying . `` [ The alleged killer ] is not one of us , and if he thinks he is , then he is deluded , '' said the Rev . Gary Cass , the director of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission . Dinwiddie , a 54-year-old grandmother , said Roeder once told her that he confronted a doctor at a Planned Parenthood center , telling the physician , `` Now I know what you look like . '' `` We all said , 'Scott , you better leave or they are gon na get after you , ' `` Dinwiddie said . `` Next thing , all these people come rushing out of the place , all worried . Scott was standing up for what he believed in . '' In the mid-1990s , police said he was also possibly linked to the Freemen , an anti-government group based in Montana . Eugene Frye , who says he has known Roeder for years as an anti-tax campaigner , said just Roeder showed up at a recent abortion protest talking about this year 's trial of Tiller , whom Frye called the `` killer . '' Tiller was acquitted in March of 19 misdemeanor counts of performing unlawful procedures at his clinic , and Frye said Roeder told him he had attended the trial . See what people are saying about Tiller 's slaying » . `` He just said he 'd been down there , and that the trial was a sham , '' Frye said . But he said he was surprised that Roeder was a suspect in Tiller 's death , saying he never spoke of any kind of violence . Tiller describes the philosophy of his clinic in 1999 » . CNN 's Ed Lavandera , Randi Kaye , Paul Vercammen and Ashley Fantz contributed to this report .
Ex - wife : Jennifer Roeder was self - righteous , potentially dangerous . Scott Roeder , 51 , of the Kansas City , Kansas , area charged with murder . Roeder suspected of killing abortion ##ist Dr. George Till on Sunday . Tiller was one few remaining doctors in the U.S. offering late - term abortions .