Two more women describe how they were sexually assaulted as first week of Rodhouse trial ends

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. — Another woman testified Friday morning during the Austin Rodhouse trial about how he gave her “Austin massages” when she was a child. However, this woman also said she later had vaginal sex with Rodhouse when she was 10 years old.

Yet another victim testified that when she dated Rodhouse for about three months when she was 18 years old, then left him after he forced her to have anal sex. When she refused to continue doing that, he threatened to call her younger sister and eventually rape her.

An eight-woman, four-man jury listened to testimony during the fourth day of the five-day trial in Pike County Circuit Court before Judge Charles H.W. Burch.

Rodhouse, who turns 31 this 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.

The first victim who testified Friday, referred to here as JaneDoe4, said she met Rodhouse when they were in high school. He contacted her by Facebook Messenger in May 2016. When she started dating him, JaneDoe4 said Rodhouse was “nice.”

“He was very friendly and well put-together,” she said.

She eventually moved into a house in Bowling Green, Mo., where Rodhouse lived with three friends. Those friends eventually kicked him out, so they moved to JaneDoe4’s grandmother’s home about 30 miles away.

Things quickly changed in the relationship. JaneDoe4 said Rodhouse exhibited jealous behavior, called her names and wanted her to dress a certain way — not to overdress. He also began telling her to lose weight.

“He felt that I would be more attractive if I lost weight,” she said.

She claimed Rodhouse would only give her what she called “a child’s portion” of a meal. If she wanted more, he would shame her and call her names. JaneDoe4 said she lost approximately 40 pounds in three months.

She said if she worked places with other males, Rodhouse would go “throw a fit” and fight them. She was told not to talk to the male co-workers. She also said when she received a check, Rodhouse would cash it and spend all the money.

Rodhouse wanted to have anal sex, but JaneDoe4 balked. Once when they had vaginal sex, he eventually put his penis in her anus and said, “Oops, that was an accident.”

“He wanted sex when he wanted sex, whether I did or not,” she said.

After Rodhouse made his threat to rape her sister, JaneDoe4 said she remembered going to her grandmother’s home to find Rodhouse there with her sister. When Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes asked her what she did, JaneDoe4 said, “I would just have sex with him.”

The relationship ended after three months when her grandmother and a friend intervened. JaneDoe4 said Rodhouse drove by the house frequently for the next two months.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Casey Schnack asked if she had asked for a restraining order or reported to the police about Rodhouse driving by the house. JaneDoe4 said she didn’t because she believed a previous sexual assault “wasn’t handled appropriately” by local law enforcement.

The second victim who testified Friday, referred to here as JaneDoe5, said Rodhouse touched her vagina during one of his massages for the first time when she was 8 or 9 years old. That eventually led to sexual intercourse when she was in “third or fourth grade.” She claimed Rodhouse had sex with her in the woods after they rode a four-wheeler, and it also happened in her mother’s garage.

“I told him not to do it,” JaneDoe5 said. “He ignored it.”

“Despite the fact Austin had sexually abused you as a child, did you continue to interact with him as an adult?” Carnes asked.

After JaneDoe5 said yes, Carnes asked why.

“I wanted to believe he would get better,” she replied.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Casey Schnack asked if JaneDoe5 would occasionally black out and not remember things.

“When I’m being sexually abused, yes,” JaneDoe 5 replied.

“Would you black out or not remember things when you were using drugs?” Schnack said.

That led to a testy exchange when JaneDoe5 said she “self-medicated” to deal with sex abuse, and she abused Xanax after the death of a family member. She said she spent three years in rehab.

“In the past, you and Austin have not had a great relationship. You probably don’t care for him, and he doesn’t really care for you either. Correct?” Schnack asked.

“That’s not true,” JaneDoe5 said.

“Do you have some anger toward him?” Schnack asked.

“I do not,” JaneDoe5 said. 

“Do you love him?” Schnack asked.

“I do, and I forgive him,” JaneDoe5 said.

Dr. Eric Fynn-Thompson, a plastic surgeon with Quincy Medical Group, told the jury about how he saw a break in the ring finger of Rodhouse’s wife, identified in court documents as “CC.” He said he made a custom split to help the finger heal. He said if the finger hadn’t been treated that CC would have dealt with a “long-term” injury.

Jennifer Ratcliff, an admitting nurse at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, said she admitted CC to the hospital on May 7 after doctors at Illini Community Hospital determined she had ruptured her spleen. She said Rodhouse answered most of the questions and prevented medical personnel to take off her pants or underwear to examine her.

Dr. Stephen Liesen, a dentist from Barry, testified that an X-ray of CC’s jaw taken on May 8 showed a previous fracture to her mandible (lower jaw) had healed and calloused over.

Testimony is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Monday. Rodhouse, a Pleasant Hill native, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His wife is expected to testify Monday.