Crime
Judge Grants Probation to Eric Rowe After Conviction in Violent Domestic Assault Caught on Camera
MARSHFIELD, Mo. — A Missouri judge has placed a man convicted of felony domestic assault and child endangerment on probation rather than sending him to prison, a decision that has sparked public outrage and prompted the victim’s family to demand a formal review of the case.
On December 3, Judge Chuck Replogle sentenced Eric “Jordan” Rowe following his convictions for Domestic Assault in the Third Degree (Felony E) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor).
The court imposed a three-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the felony count and 12 months in county jail for the misdemeanor. However, both sentences were fully suspended, and Rowe was instead placed on five years of supervised probation.
The sentencing follows the release of disturbing home surveillance video that captured Rowe violently attacking his wife inside their home while their toddler stood nearby.
The footage shows Rowe grabbing the victim by the head and throat, slamming her to the ground, strangling her, and continuing the assault as she repeatedly cries out, “You’re hurting the baby.”
According to court records, Rowe fled the scene before police arrived, refused to turn himself in, and later deleted portions of the surveillance footage.
His father was also charged in connection with the case for allegedly attempting to influence the victim during the investigation.
The video was ultimately released to the public by the victim’s sister, Shelby Leigh, who says she has since received threats from members of Rowe’s family for speaking out.
The family is now formally requesting a review of the sentencing decision, arguing that probation does not reflect the severity of the violence.
At the sentencing hearing, the victim, Haleigh Rowe, delivered a deeply emotional and detailed victim impact statement in open court, describing years of physical abuse, psychological manipulation, coercive control, and terror inside the family home. Portions of the assault video were also played for the court during that hearing.
Haleigh stated that the November 3 attack, which led to the current charges, was only one incident in a long pattern of violence that included:
- A fractured nose in 2020, captured on a Ring camera that Rowe later deleted
- A second assault in 2021 on the eve of her return to a professional career
- Repeated lockouts from the home and bedroom, sometimes while children watched and cried
- Threats, surveillance, intimidation, and unauthorized tracking
- Violations of a no-contact order within days of Rowe’s release from jail
- Ongoing harassment through digital platforms and anonymous communications
She also detailed Rowe’s alleged treatment of their nonverbal, special-needs child, including incidents where the child was placed at physical risk during acts of violence.
Haleigh told the court she suffers from depression, nightmares, hypervigilance, and fear, has lost financial stability and health insurance following Rowe’s arrest and job loss, and has spent thousands of dollars on legal fees.
She stated that marital funds were used for Rowe’s criminal defense, bond, and GPS monitoring.
She further informed the court that multiple felony charges originally filed against Rowe and his father were reduced without her consent, ultimately resulting in the two current convictions.
“I do not seek bitterness,” she said in closing. “I seek safety.”
The victim’s family argues that probation and anger management have already failed, citing that Rowe had previously assaulted his first wife while attending therapy and church.
They contend that the court’s decision places both Haleigh and the children at continued risk and fails to hold the offender fully accountable.
The family is now calling on judicial authorities to review the sentencing outcome, reinstate stricter protections, and reconsider incarceration based on the totality of the evidence.
The case remains a focal point of public concern in the Marshfield community as advocates continue to highlight the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of judicial accountability in violent crime cases.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.