Evidence introduced by state may also indicate Rodhouse’s wife was willing participant in alleged assaults

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

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Five more people testified on behalf of the state on Wednesday during the third day of the Austin Rodhouse trial in Pike County Circuit Court, explaining photos, physical exams, digital searches and search warrants conducted since Rodhouse’s arrest on May 8.

Rodhouse, who turns 31 in November, is being tried on 19 domestic violence and sex-related felonies. Nine of them are Class X felonies that, if he’s found guilty by the eight-woman, four-man jury, could lead to sentences of up to 30 years.

However, three pieces of evidence introduced on Wednesday also appeared to indicate that Rodhouse’s wife, identified in court documents as “CC,” could have been a willing participant in the heinous activities in their Pleasant Hill home. She has not been charged with any crimes.

Jared Sample, a criminal intelligence analyst specialist with the Illinois State Police, answered questions from Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes during Wednesday’s morning session before Judge Charles H.W. Burch. He described how Cellbrite Pathfinder helped him analyze more than 3.4 million “events” — including more than 560,000 photos and more than 20,000 videos — that were discovered on four electronic devices in the Rodhouse home.

When the jury returned from lunch, defense attorney Casey Schnack asked Sample if the data extraction could tell him who took the photos, who wrote texts or when the photos were taken on the electronic devices. Sample said he could only prove which device the photos and texts were stored on and what date the images were created.

“There’s no way to tell that if it was Austin or (CC) or somebody else. Correct?” Schnack asked.

Sample said no.

Schnack then asked about a document dated Jan. 19, 2023, that was discovered on Austin’s phone in the Notes app. 

“This appears to be a contract of some sort,” Schnack asked. “Do you testify that there was a signature at the bottom that appears to be that of (CC)?” 

Sample said yes, then read the details of the “contract” titled “BDSM Consent and Hold Harmless.”

“I, your name, hereby declare by penalty of perjury that I’m over 18 years of age. I further declare that this agreement is of my own free will, and neither I nor anyone near or dear to me has been threatened with harm or embarrassment. Both parties agree this is a private agreement not to be disclosed to third parties, except in the case of accusation of sexual or physical misconduct. 

“If he/she shows or makes public disagreement without consent any accusation of sexual or physical misconduct, it is agreed he or she will be liable for damages for invasion of privacy, whether or not his or her signature appears at the end. By initiating, (CC) agrees to engage in all or some of the following that includes, but is not limited to, the following consensual acts and will not hold Austin responsible for any harm done, regardless of how extreme — sexual fondling, petting, kissing, cuddling, age regression, sexual intercourse, role play, rape play, oral copulation, anal dilation, medical sounding, unilateral copulation by Austin only, bondage, suspension, role play, submitting and obeying, others to be specified, flogging, asphyxiation, spanking, sadism and other extreme kinks that may lead marks, bruises or bleeding, losing, obeying. 

“I further declare that I am at this time not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication. I agree to engage in consensual physical and sexual acts of Austin Rodhouse and will not change my mind before the sexual physical act is over. I fully understand that these sexual acts are extreme and there’s potential physical harm. However, it is further understood that if I, for any reason, say the words (unintelligible) that my partner agrees to stop instantly.” 

Sample said the document appeared to be signed by Austin and CC.

A second contract was discovered in the digital extraction, and Carnes asked Sample about it during his testimony. It was a photo of a hand-written contract found on Austin’s phone. It read:

“When (CC) is bad (doesn’t submmit (cq) or obey), Daddy (Austin) gets to pick a punishment of his choosing like extreem (cq) spanking, clogging, broken bones, etc. I (CC) will bruse (cq), bleed and may need a cast/hospital visit.”

Sample said that document also was signed by CC.

During questioning from Carnes, Sample also read aloud for the jury a series of screenshots found on Austin’s phone that contained the contents of a text conversation. However, it was not immediately clear who the participants were. Someone asked, “What happened in the video in detail?”

“Austin found out and caught me laying naked in the room with (Austin and CC’s oldest son),” the other person texted back. “ … When my parents see the video I made, they will be very disappointed in me and disgusted that I could have sex with a minor and will disown me from the family. I know I would be arrested as a child pedophile and spend years of life in prison.”

As the conversation continued, that same person said, “The worst part is, I really liked it.”

Later, that person then wrote, “Can I tell you anything?” 

“Of course you can,” was the reply.

“No matter how bad?” the person wrote back.

“No matter how bad,” was the reply.

The person then wrote she performed oral sex on Austin and CC’s oldest son, going into graphic detail and concluding with, “It felt amazing.”

Carnes asked, “Are we actually able to say who typed this conversation at this point?”

Sample said no.

Testimony in the trial is expected to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday. Rodhouse has pleaded not guilty to all charges.