Squeamish jurors shown graphic photos, obscene text messages, sex toys during Rodhouse trial

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. — Some simply couldn’t watch, while others looked at the ground. Some took deep breaths, and others held their breath.

Several members of the eight-woman, four-man jury assigned to the Austin Rodhouse trial in Pike County Circuit Court squirmed in their seats as they were shown dozens of graphic photos on three television screens in the courtroom during Wednesday morning’s testimony.

Rodhouse, who turns 31 next month, is being tried on 19 domestic violence and sex-related felonies.

• 3 counts of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony with a sentencing range of between three and seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 
• 1 count of criminal sexual assault involving force, a Class 1 felony with a sentencing range of between four and 15 years in prison.
• 4 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony with a sentencing range of six to 60 years in prison.
• 3 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in prison.
• 2 counts of child pornography, a Class X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in prison.
• 3 counts of indecent solicitation of an adult, a Class 2 felony with a sentencing range of three to seven years in prison.
• 3 counts of aggravated battery to a child, a Class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in prison.

Testimony in the trial before Judge Charles H.W. Burch is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Thursday. Rodhouse, a Pleasant Hill native, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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. He described how Cellbrite Pathfinder helped him analyze more than 3.4 million digital “events” — including more than 560,000 photos and more than 20,000 videos — that were discovered on three phones and an iPad in the Rodhouse home.

The jury saw screenshots of several text messages involving Rodhouse or his wife, identified in court documents as “CC.” Sample said some text messages involved details involving sexual acts between the Rodhouses and their children, ages 3 and 4. However, Carnes said she would introduce those as evidence later in the trial.

Carnes then showed photos of bruising, scars, tattoos and blood on CC’s naked body. Several photos showed CC holding an icebag on either her blackened eyes or her swollen jaw. Among the tattoos were a tattoo over her right eye on her forehead that said “Austin,” a neck tattoo that said “Owned by Austin Rodhouse,” a tattoo on her back that said “Property of Austin” and a tattoo on her ribs that said “Daddy’s Little Princess.” 

Sample also identified an SD card that he said contained videos of child pornography, which were not shown to the jury.

Rodhouse had little reaction as the images were shown to the jurors. Instead, he continued to scribble on a notepad as he did during Tuesday’s testimony.

Summer Rodhouse Crowder, Rodhouse’s aunt, testified about a meeting she had on May 4 with Rodhouse and his wife. Crowder, a home health nurse from Pleasant Hill, said Rodhouse said he wanted to meet with her because his wife was not feeling well. They met at a local baseball field as Crowder’s son had baseball practice.

Crowder said she had seen CC earlier at a grocery store.

“I asked her what happened, and she said she fell off a woodpile while playing with the boys,” she said.

Crowder said CC was lethargic and her oxygen levels were low when she saw her at the park.

“I did attempt a blood pressure,” Crowder said. “Her heart tones were faint, so I wasn’t certain about that. … When I stuck the stethoscope (to her chest), trying to listen to her heart sounds, it was just faint. Any healthy woman, I should be able to hear it.”

“Did she appear to understand what was going on around her?” Carnes said.

“Not really, and that’s what I told (Austin),” Crowder replied.

Crowder said she didn’t notice any bruising. She told Rodhouse to take his wife to the emergency room. She recommended calling an ambulance, but Rodhouse drove his wife to the hospital in Louisiana, Mo., with his own truck.

Defense attorney Casey Schnack asked if Crowder had much of a relationship with Rodhouse. Crowder said no.

Emily Maulding, a crime scene investigator with the Illinois State Police, testified that she took photos of CC’s body on two occasions — on May 9 at Blessing Hospital and on June 20 at a private doctor’s office in Quincy. Along with photos of bruising and tattoos, Maulding’s photos showed a gash on her hairline and a swollen finger on her right hand — which had a cast during the June 20 visit.

Brandy Tallman, the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) coordinator at Blessing Hospital, said she performed a sexual assault exam on CC on May 9. She provided a document showing 13 spots on a drawing of CC’s body. Four of them showed surgical incisions. Four of them were scabs and bruising on her CC’s left leg. Three of them were scabs, bruising and discoloration on CC’s right leg. One showed her swollen right ring finger.

Chief Deputy Zack Orr with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department testified about two search warrants he handled — one to recover electronic devices from the Rodhouse home in Pleasant Hill, and one to recover multiple sexual toys found in a trunk in the master bedroom and in other places in the house.

Orr also said a turkey, a chicken and dogs were in the house in cages. They were given to Rodhouse’s father to care for.

Carnes then asked Orr to show the jury a selection of the toys that were hand-picked earlier this month during a meeting between Orr, Carnes and Illinois State Police Trooper Jordan Gerard. Among the toys were vibrators and dildos, an electronic shocker, a sex machine and a tire knocker (which Rodhouse allegedly used to strike his wife).

Also discovered were a series of books about BDSM, described as a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission. The books were titled “200 Ideas for BDSM,” “FemDom for Nice Girls” and “1001 Ways to be Romantic.”

“These items are available on the commercial market for purchase by anyone, right?” Schnack asked.

“Yeah. I found my information on Amazon,” Orr replied.

“It isn’t anything that’s secret or private, correct?” Schnack asked. “Anyone with access to Amazon can get on there and purchase any of these items, correct? … They’re perfectly legal items to have, correct?”

“That is absolutely correct,” Orr said.