State police review initial interview with Rodhouse’s wife at Blessing Hospital – Muddy River News

WARNING: This story contains explicit descriptions of violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, rude or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

QUINCY – Jordan Gerard, a former trooper with the Illinois State Police, recalled the look on Austin Rodhouse’s wife’s face when she first spoke to him the day after she arrived at Blessing Hospital with a punctured spleen from a kick on May 8. It is claimed that she was handed over by her husband.

“(He was) very scared,” he said in response to a question from Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes. “You could tell by the look on his face that he wouldn’t talk to law enforcement and that he was afraid to talk to law enforcement. “We can tell he’s in a lot of pain.”

Gerard was one of three witnesses who testified before a jury of eight women and four men Tuesday afternoon before Judge Charles H. W. Burch during the second day of Rodhouse’s trial in Pike County Circuit Court.

Rodhouse was charged with aggravated domestic battery when he was arrested the same day Gerard was in the hospital. He is charged with 19 domestic violence and sex-related offences:

• A Class 2 aggravated domestic violence crime with a sentence range of 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• 1st criminal sexual assault involving force, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years.
• 4 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault on a child, a Class X felony punishable by six to 60 years in prison.
• Three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison.
• 2 counts of child pornography, a Class X felony with a sentence ranging from six to 30 years.
• 3 counts of indecent harassment of an adult, a Class 2 felony punishable by three to seven years in prison.
• Three counts of aggravated battery on a child, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

Gerard testified that he and Ereka Glass, an investigator with the Illinois State Police, first met Rodhouse’s wife, identified in court documents as “CC,” on May 8. First he wanted Austin released from the hospital, then he asked. – and got permission – took CC’s phone for investigation.

When CC was asked why he was in the hospital, Gerald said he claimed he fell into the bathtub and hit his side because he heard tornado sirens.

“You talked to Dr. (Pierre) Charles and none of us believed that was the case,” Gerard said. “Then Ereka reached out and held his hand and said, ‘You’re safe.’ Can you please tell us what’s going on? We are here for you and your children.”

Gerard told CC he was aware that something was potentially being held over the woman’s head and said “we’ll figure out whatever it is.”

“How did he react?” Carnes asked.

“He cried,” Gerard said.

CC eventually said Austin kicked her while she was on the ground. Gerard then asked him what he was being blackmailed with.

“She said she was forced to have ‘Mother Time’ (including sexual activity),” Gerard said. “During ‘Mother Time,’ she had to take videos and photos of him (with their son) and send them to Austin.”

Gerard said he eventually seized CC’s phone, a work phone and personal phone belonging to Austin, and an iPad belonging to CC. He said he applied for all four devices and obtained search warrants and passwords, then gave all that information to the digital crimes unit of the Illinois State Police in Springfield.

When Gerard and Glass interviewed him, Schnack said CC had been out of surgery for a long time due to a ruptured spleen. He asked Gerard if he knew if CC had been given any medication that might affect his decision. He said he didn’t know.

Mark Sheftick, a digital forensics expert with the Illinois State Police, explained how data was extracted from every electronic device Gerard obtained and from an SD card. It also explained how information was collected from Snapchat, a multimedia instant messaging application.

Stacy Bucher, a former child protection specialist with the Department of Children and Family Services, said that on the morning of May 8, she learned of a serious case of domestic violence that had occurred the night before. Bucher testified that two more reports came in on May 8, alleging that CC was drugged, having sex with her children while Austin watched, and that there were tapes of CC that Austin used to blackmail her. Bucher said he eventually contacted the Illinois State Police.

Schnack said the first report Bucher received was marked “non-emergency,” but the next two were marked “emergency.”

“Are you operating under the assumption that the report is accurate, regardless of the information you have?” Schnack asked.

“We go through the same process no matter what report we have,” Bucher replied.

Testimony at the hearing is expected to begin at 09:00 on Tuesday. Rodhouse denied all accusations.